HONG KONG 21 May 2015 (HK Golfer News Wire) - It wasn't the day they had been hoping for but Hong Kong are in line to record their best ever finish at the Queen Sirikit Cup – the Asia-Pacific Amateur Ladies Golf Team Championship – after ending the penultimate round at Fanling in a tie for second place, nine shots behind runaway leaders Korea.
The hosts, represented by Tiffany Chan Tsz-ching, Isabella Leung Hei-nam and Kitty Tam Yik-ching, started the day with a one-shot advantage at the top of the leader board but struggled in the blustery conditions, adding a combined score of 151 over the New Course to lie alongside Japan and the Philippines on two-over-par.
"I honestly thought we could have done better," said the in-form Chan, whose 75 was the team's lowest round of the day. "It was windy out there and some of the other teams played really well, but I like to think we can still come up with a top-three finish.
"The plan is to play smart over the tougher opening holes and look for birdies on the back nine. Golf changes every day and it could be our turn to do well again tomorrow."
Hong Kong's best result in the 37-year history of the event is third, a position they achieved in 1986.
Hong Kong national coach Brad Schadewitz added: "The wind was a huge factor and the course played long, so I'm very impressed with some of the scores out there.
"If it's dry and the team can get it going early by holing a few putts then anything can happen. Hopefully the girls' experience on this golf course will come through."
Korea lived up to their billing as pre-tournament favourites with a fine team display. Park Hyun-kyung, Jang Eun-soo and Lee Joung-eun – who also occupy the top three places in the individual standings – combined for a three-under 141 and are well on course to claim their eighth Queen Sirikit Cup title in the last nine years.
Team Results
281 – Korea (140,141)
290 – Japan (148, 142), Philippines (147, 143), Hong Kong (139, 151)
291 – Australia (147, 144)
294 – Thailand (144, 150)
295 – Indonesia (146, 149)
296 – New Zealand (145, 151)
298 – Chinese Taipei (152, 146), China (148, 150), India (147, 151)
302 – Malaysia (148, 154)
303 – Singapore (156, 147)
Individual Results
140 – Park Hyun-kyung (Korea – 70, 70)
141 – Jang Eun-soo (Korea – 70, 71), Lee Joung-eun (Korea – 70,71)
142 – Minami Hiruta (Japan – 75,67), Mary Princess Superal (Philippines – 73,69)
144 – Hannah Green (Australia – 73,71)
145 – Tiffany Chan (Hong Kong – 70, 75), Isabella Leung (69, 76)
146 – Keh Wenyung (New Zealand – 72, 74)
147 – Elizabeth Elmassian (Australia – 74,73) and two others
