The Malaysian ladies squad of Ashley Lau, Natasha Andrea Oon and Puteri Alyaa Abdulghani won a silver medal for the nation in the matchplay team event of the 30th Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines.
Following their upset win over favourites Thailand in yesterday’s semifinals, the plucky Malaysian lasses came up just short in the final, losing 1.5 to 0.5 to hosts Philippines at the Luisita Golf & Country Club in Tarlac City. This was Malaysia’s only medal in the golf competition.
Natasha, who beat ladies world amateur number one Atthaya Thitikul in a playoff yesterday to send Malaysia through to the final, was unable to repeat her heroics when she lost 3&2 to individual gold medallist and Filipina number one Bianca Isabel Pagdangangan. Ashley battled hard against highly-rated Filipina Lois Kaye Go but settled for a tie.
Meanwhile, Thailand claimed the ladies team bronze medal by beating Indonesia in the third placing match.
Malaysian women’s national coach Lim Ai Lian paid tribute to her charges.
“The girls played their hearts out. They fought as best as they could. We came close … that’s something to be proud of,” said Ai Lian, who was part of the Malaysian ladies team that won gold at the 1993 SEA Games.
“We’ll put this in our pocket as experience.”
In the men’s team final, Thailand beat Singapore 2-1 to win the gold medal.
The Malaysian contingent (Photo courtesy of CC Boo)
