Golf: Aldridge pitch a cup winner

WELLINGTON - New Zealand survived an emotional rollercoaster ride before winning the Queen Sirikit Cup Asian teams golf title, for the third time, in a playoff at Paraparaumu Beach yesterday.

The New Zealand team of Tina Howard, Lisa Aldridge and Renee Fowler walked from the course after regulation play believing they had blown a three-shot overnight lead to finish second behind a resurgent Chinese-Taipei side, inspired by Jye Wei Yun.

An ashen faced Howard, who three-putted the final hole for a 1-under 72, was conducting a post mortem with the media when she was taken aside by team captain Margot Oliver and informed there was the possibility of a playoff.

The confusion was caused by an incorrect marker's score and another 20 minutes passed before it was confirmed the home side had finished in a tie with Chinese-Taipei and the players had the chance to redeem themselves in a playoff, over the 417m par-five 18th.

With the leading two scores counting for each side, Fowler and Hung Chin Huei traded pars, as did Howard and Jye.

The winning edge was gained by left-hander Aldridge, who played in the last winning New Zealand team nine years ago,when she birdied the hole for the second time, after a brillant pitch, against par by Chuan Lu Hsiao.

New Zealand started the day three shots clear of Australia and four ahead of Japan, Chinese-Taipei and Korea.

Chinese-Taipei improved by four shots, principally due to Jye, who finished with an excellent, tournament-best 5-under 68, including six birdies and a solitary bogey.

But the New Zealanders still looked in control before Howard dropped shots at the 16th and 18th to leave the outcome in the balance. Fowler's 78 was non-counting and Aldridge came home in 74, thanks to her birdie at the 18th.

Jye on Saturday holed-in-one on the par-three second and her closing round yesterday was enough to promote her to the lead in the individual standings on six-under 213, four ahead of Howard and five clear of Japan's Miho Koga.

Howard played a prominent role on Saturday when she carded 68 to earn New Zealand their advantage after the second round.