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Australians Karl Vilips and Grace Kim left themselves too much to do on the final day of the teams event in Argentina, though both will leave the 2018 Youth Olympics with a gold medal around their necks.
The Aussie duo entered the final day eight shots back of eventual team gold medal winners Thailand and couldn’t make up the necessary ground to book a return trip to the podium, eventually finishing at 4-over par for the four rounds, 16 strokes back of the Thais.
After rounds of 65 and 71 in the fourball and foursomes, Vilips and Kim returned a combined score of 148 to finish in a share of ninth.
Gold medallists Thailand picked up two strokes on the final two holes of the 72-hole teams event, leapfrogging the United States in dramatic circumstances.
The Americans coughed up four shots in the final four holes at The Hurlingham Club and were forced to settle for silver, with local heroes Argentina sealing the bronze.
“We had a lot of pressure, I guess it made sense that we should be able to win,” said Vilips.
“But it’s a completely different game, the team event. It was fun, we did our best but obviously weren’t able to get a medal.”
It was an equally disappointing finish for Sydney’s Kim, but takes none of the gloss off the pair of gold medals secured earlier in the week.
“I think I put a lot of pressure on myself, knowing that we both won gold,” said Kim.
“Expectations get higher and higher but it’s a totally different game.”