THAILAND’S Arpichaya Yubol (pic) snatched Asian Games women’s golf gold in dramatic fashion yesterday after India’s Aditi Ashok blew a seven-shot overnight lead.
Ashok, who shot an 11-under 61 on Saturday, slumped to a final-round 77 on the par-72 West Lake International Golf Course in Hangzhou for silver.
LPGA Tour rookie Arpichaya’s final-round 68 took her to 19-under par and victory over Ashok by two strokes.
“When I hit the second shot on 18 I felt it was straight, but when I saw it land on the green, I cried a little bit,” said the world No. 206, who was mobbed by her equally emotional Thai teammates after holing the final putt.
The 21-year-old’s four-under round also sealed the women’s team gold for Thailand on a 34-under aggregate, six clear of South Korea, with China taking bronze.
South Korea’s Yoo Hyun-jo, who plays on the domestic KLPGA Tour, won the individual bronze after China’s world No. 13 Lin Xiyu tumbled off the podium with a one-over 73. Hyun-jo shot the round of the day, a seven-under 65, to finish three clear of Xiyu.
The top-ranked player in the field, China’s world No. 2 Yin Ruoning, fell out of the medal hunt after a third-round 74 on Saturday and finished in a tie for eighth. — AFP
