Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (18 October) – Thailand withstood the gains of Spain and Australia to retain a one-stroke lead through 54 holes at 8-under-par 430 Friday at the 2002 Women's World Amateur Team Championship at Saujana Golf and Country Club.

Entering the last day of the championship for the Espirito Santo Trophy, Thailand leads Spain by one stroke, Australia and Germany by three, the USA by five and Finland by six. All of the contending teams played the Bunga Raya Course.

Spanish captain Vicky Pertierra summed up the possibilities before the final round: “Five or six teams are close. There is no favorite. Many teams can make it. It is up to (Saturday).”

On the hottest day of the championship, Thailand, which held a three-stroke lead after 36 holes, posted an even par total of 146. The counting scores came from 16-year-old twins Naree and Aree Song Wongluekiet, who shot 1-under-par 72 and a 1-over-par 73, respectively.

“It was very tough today, up and down, up and down,” said Thailand captain Angie Suphakarn. “But, to be able to keep our score the same, I am happy.”

The Spanish team made up three strokes by posting a team score of 3-under-par 143 to stand at 7-under-par 431 from the combination of Tania Eloseguie (3-under-par 70) and Nuria Clau (even-par 73).

Australia logged the largest move in the standings with a 5-under-par 141, which included a 3-under-par 70 from Lindsay Wright and a 2-under-par 71 from Vicky Uwland. They were fifth after 36 holes.

Germany, which was second after two rounds, used a 1-under-par 72 from Martina Eberl and a 1-over-par 74 from Pia Odefey to shoot even par 146 on the day but lost ground to the surging Spanish and Australian teams.

The top half of the field will play the Palm Course, locally known as ‘The Cobra', for the final round.

Confidence abounded among the teams near the top of the standings.

“The first nine holes have to go well,” said Australian captain Liz Cavil of the last round. “The last nine are pressure time. But the team is getting better like great wine.”

Aree Song Wongluekit was realistic.

“Other people have to chase us,” said the Thai teenager. “We would like to have been able to extend our lead but we didn't. But, I like our chances.”

Laura Myerscough of the USA, who registered the best round of the day at 5-under-68 kept in all in perspective.

“On the Palm Course, anything can happen to anybody out there with any of the teams,” she said.

Conducted by the World Amateur Golf Council, which comprises national governing bodies of golf in more than 100 countries, the World Amateur Team Championships are a biennial international amateur competition, which is rotated among three geographic zones: Asia-Pacific, American and European-African.

Each team, which has two or three players, plays 18 holes of stroke play for four days. In each round, the total of the two lowest scores by players from each team constitutes the team score for the round. The four-day (72 holes) total is the team's score for the championship.

For complete results, visit www.wagc.org. Photos are available on www.wagc.org/pix.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Results of Friday's (18 October) third round of the Women's World Amateur Team Championship, played at the Saujana Golf & Country Club (Palm Course: par 36-37—73, 5,618 meters, 6,147 yards; Bunga Raya Course: par: 36-37—73, 5,477 meters, 5,994 yards):


Place Team Scoring Rounds Total
Score
To par Thru Today 1 2 3
1 Thailand -8 F E 139 145 146 430
2 Spain2 -7 F -3 144 144 143 431
T3 Australia -5 F -5 152 140 141 433
T3 Germany -5 F E 147 140 146 433
5 USA -3 F -4 143 150 142 435
6 Finland -2 F -2 144 148 144 436
T7 Italy +2 F +4 148 142 150 440
T7 Sweden +2 F -2 146 150 144 440
T9 Korea +3 F -1 144 152 145 441
T9 Mexico2 +3 F -2 151 146 144 441
11 Japan +4 F +4 147 145 150 442
T12 Colombia +6 F E 149 149 146 444
T12 GB&I +6 F -5 156 147 141 444
T12 Norway +6 F -2 150 150 144 444
T15 Canada +7 F +1 150 148 147 445
T15 New Zealand +7 F E 150 149 146 445
T17 Chinese Taipei +9 F +2 150 149 148 447
T17 France +9 F +2 147 152 148 447
19 Denmark +10 F +5 147 150 151 448
20 Netherlands +11 F +2 149 152 148 449
21 Austria +20 F +7 153 152 153 458
22 Switzerland +25 F +11 148 158 157 463
T23 Brazil +27 F +2 156 161 148 465
T23 Philippines +27 F +9 158 152 155 465
25 Argentina +29 F +11 153 157 157 467
26 Hong Kong, +31 F +9 157 157 155 469
China
27 Chile +36 F +2 162 164 148 474
28 Belgium +37 F +16 162 151 162 475
29 Portugal +40 F +11 154 167 157 478
T30 Malaysia +42 F +16 161 157 162 480
T30 South Africa +42 F +12 167 155 158 480
32 Guatemala +57 F +24 159 166 170 495
33 Slovakia +59 F +14 172 165 160 497
34 Russian Fed. +62 F +21 172 161 167 500
35 Puerto Rico +68 F +20 171 169 166 506
36 Bolivia +88 F +24 180 176 170 526
37 Greece +98 F +36 173 181 182 536
38 Croatia +119 F +38 183 190 184 557
39 Islamic +263 F +90 236 229 236 701
Republic of Iran