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Published on August 18, 2007

The Thai men's golf team claimed the 13th gold medal of the Universiade in stunning fashion at the Watermill Golf and Garden course in Nakhon Nayok yesterday.

The par-72 7,014-yard course was filled with jubilant scenes as the awesome foursome of Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Ekalak Vaisayakul, Varun Isarabhakdi and Varut Chomchalen fired a combined 863 to pull off a sensational victory.

The hosts were just a point better than Mexico. Japan, who were leading the tournament on the first three days, faded away yesterday and ended up three strokes behind Thailand.

Ramkhamhaeng University student Kiradech, despite signing off with a 1-over-par 73, played a key role in the success by producing the team's lowest four-round score of 290.

"It's a fulfilling experience. I had set a gold medal as my main goal this year and it is unbelievable that I have one now,'' said the 18-year-old, who finally won after returning empty-handed from the 2005 SEA Games and the Asian Games.

"I have been waiting for so long for this medal. I wanted to win something as a national player,'' said the teenager, who put off his plan to become a professional to chase his dream.

Now that his wish has been fulfilled, Kiradech is ready to move on to the next phase of his career.

"It's about time to focus on professional golf. A lot of my friends have already joined the pro tours,'' said Kiradech, who is likely to skip the SEA Games in December to compete in the professionals' qualifying school.

He and his three buddies will be millionaires as soon as the government awards Bt1 million each for their victory. But for Varun, the gold meant much more than money although it is a lot higher than the top prize of a local event.

"The money was not a factor. We were motivated by the gold. We really worked hard as a team and it paid off,'' said the 20-year-old student from Rattana University. It will, most probably, the last gold for Thailand in the Games, as the hosts chances of winning another are virtually nil. Thailand have already exited from the men's volleyball and basketball competitions. They are rank outsiders in

the diving competition.

In the golf individual competition, Chen Ming-chuan of Taiwan hit a sizzling five-under 67 to finish at seven-under 281 and grab the gold medal. The silver medal went to Great Britain's Charles Ford while Yuki Usami of Japan had to be content with the bronze after both finished with 2-under 286. Ford had a par on the 18th hole while Usami sank a double bogey, which earned the Briton a runner-up medal.

Despite a dismal round of 76, Ireland's Danielle McVeigh's four-day total of four-over 292 was good enough to earn her the women's individual gold medal.

It was a wire-to-wire victory for McVeigh, who was quite proud to win her nation's first medal at the Universiade.

Mexico claimed the team event with a score of 601.

Lerpong Amsa-ngiam

The Nation