Golf tees up triumph and torment for Thais
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Thailand were forced to settle for two golds from the men's individual and team events, after the ladies blew away leads in the final round of the golf competition at the Jagorawi Country Club in Jakarta yesterday.
Rattananon Wannasrichan held on to his lead from round two, carding a finishing 70 for a total two-under-par 286 to reserve top spot on the podium in the individual event.
Countryman Natipong Srithong ended four shots behind with 290 which earned him the silver. Natipong and Rattananon joined with Poom Saksansin and Chananok Dejpiratanamongkol for a gold-winning combined total of 865 in the team event, nine strokes better than Indonesia.
The women, after taking the lead in both the individual and the team tournament, saw their Games campaign end in fiasco.
Two-day-leader Pinrath Loomboonruang enjoyed a four-shot advantage heading into the final round, but then stumbled to a 77 to tie with Indonesia’s Tatiana Wijaya, who shot a finishing 69, at one-over-par 217.
At the sudden-death play-off on the par-four first hole, it was the home player who walked away with the gold medal after she saved par while Pinrath hit five strokes.
In the team event, Thailand added Pavarisa Yoktuan and Panitta Yusabai to the mix and were leading by six shots on Wednesday, before Indonesia grabbed the gold by one stroke with a total of 440. Malaysia took bronze with 443.
