RP golfers finish best-ever eighth in World Am

MANILA, Philippines - Dottie Ardina birdied two of the last four holes to fire a one-under 71 and power the Philippines to a best-ever joint eighth finish in over four decades in the World Amateurs Golf Team Championships topped by South Korea in Argentina Saturday.

Chihiro Ikeda also birdied the par-5 15th to card a 74 at the Olivos Golf Club as Team RP closed out with a decent one-over 145 in another brutal condition for a 72-hole haul of one-under 575.

That was 29 strokes behind Korea’s amazing 30-under 546 but it proved enough to better the country’s previous best finish of ninth in 1968 in Australia.

RP, then composed of Ikeda, Louise Manalo and Anya Tanpinco, placed joint 19th, also in Australia, in 2008.

Mia Piccio, who anchored the team’s fine start with a 71, failed to count for the third straight day with a 75.

“Mission accomplished,” said RP and ICTSI team coach Bong Lopez, who credited her wards’ final round rebound after they succumbed to pressure and the tough condition at Buenos Aires Golf Club layout in the third round.

“They really worked hard for this. The course and the pin position were super tough not to mention the chilly weather and the wind,” said Lopez. “They knew putting would carry them through the Top 10 and they delivered in the closing holes.”

Ardina, 16, bucked her two-bogey mishaps with three birdies, including the last from seven feet for that 71, as she wound up also tied for eighth in the individual competition with a 286 aggregate.

Piccio, who turned 19 Saturday, wound up joint 48th at 295 while Ikeda, also 19, finished a stroke farther back at 296 for a share of 53rd.

South Korea capped its domination of the event with a 139 for that 546 and a 17-stroke romp over the United States, who had a 563 after a 143.

Han Jung-eun shot a 70-275, Kim Ji-hee turned in a 71-277 and Kim Hyun-soo made a 69-278 as they took the top three placers for a rare sweep of the individual race, making them the team to beat in next month Asian Games.

Sweden (146), France (147) and South Africa (148) finished tied for third at 572 while Spain placed sixth with a 573 after a 148 and Canada pooled a 143 for solo sevent at 574.

Germany struggled with a 152 while New Zealand assembled a 142 to join the Philippines, whose campaign was sponsored by ICTSI and sanctioned by the National Golf Association of the Phils., at eighth.

Lopez said Team RP’s joint eighth feat augurs well for their Asian Games’ bid although he admitted that the Koreans will indeed be tough to beat. Ardina and Piccio headed straight to the US and will arrive in Manila on Nov. 10 before going to Guangzhou while Ikeda will toughen up by playing in a couple of more tournaments.