World Am bets finish joint 43rd

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines closed out with a nine-over 151 and wound up joint 43rd in the storm-hit Eisenhower Trophy of the World Amateur Golf Championship ruled by France in Argentina Sunday.

Mhark Fernando carded a four-over 75 at the par-71 Olivos Golf Club while Jhonnel Ababa and Judson Eustaquio each shot a 76, one of which counted for the team’s final round output in the tournament reduced to 54 holes due to stormy weather in the second round.

Counting its 12-over 156 at the par-72 Buenos Aires Golf Club layout in the first round and a 154 at Olivos, Team RP pooled a 33-over 461 total for a share of 43rd with Dominican Republic.

Ababa wound up his stint with the national team with four bogeys and a double bogey against a lone birdie as he is set to join the pro ranks next week on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour.

Fernando, who will turn pro after the Asian Games this month, had five bogeys against a birdie while Eustaquio made two birdies but had two double bogeys and three bogeys.

France carded an even 144 at BAGC and captured the crown with a 423, four clear off Denmark, which had a 427 after a 147. The United States came in third with a 428 after a 143 followed by New Zealand, which had a 149 for a 435 and 2008 champion Scotland, which had a 436 after a 146.

It was RP’s worst finish since it wound up 38th in 2006 in South Africa although it was only held over 54 holes. The Philippines finished third twice in its 22 appearances in the biennial event, the last in the 2002 staging in Malaysia.

But the ICTSI-backed ladies squad earlier turned in a best-ever effort of joint eighth in last week’s Espirito Santo Trophy with Dottie Ardina, Chihiro Ikeda and Mia Piccio besting the ninth place effort of the 1968 team in Australia.