Date: December 19, 2006
Author: Alistair Hogg

Asians outclass Internationals

By Alistair Hogg Team Asia has won the Lexus Cup for the first time despite the best efforts of Australian Nikki Campbell and the Internationals at the Tanah Merah Country Club in Singapore. The teams battled neck and neck throughout the final day and it wasn&apost until the last singles pairing that the event was decided. Korean Seon Hwa Lee led Julieta Granada of Paraguay by two strokes with just two holes to play. The pressure proved too much for the South American though who found the sand with her approach and left her opponent to make par to seal the championship by a single match. The final day was punctuated by a lengthy rain delay that threatened to halt the tournament. But the skies soon cleared to allow matches to be completed and the Asians to atone for losing the inaugural Lexus Cup in 2005. Campbell had a disappointing weekend by her standards. She finished all square in the opening foursome partnered with Sherri Steinhauer, lost the second 3&1 with Brittany Lincicome and was overwhelmed by Hee-Won Han in her match on Sunday. The 26-year old made it hard for herself, falling three behind the Korean after just five holes. It proved too big a margin to make up as she succumbed 3&2. Final scores from the Lexus Cup at Tanah Merah Country Club (par 71): Team Asia 12 1/2 Team International 11 1/2