Tuesday, January 22, 2008 Glorious day for RP sports By Charles Raymond A. Maxey
IT'S a glorious Sunday for Philippine sports, and the victory did not come atop the ring and it is not Manny Pacquiao raising his hands in triumph.
This time, the conquest transpired on the golf course and it was carried out by two admirable ladies -- Jennifer Rosales and Dorothy Delasin -- who exchanged high-fives, kissed the trophy and giggled following their own remarkable achievement.
Sweet victory, this one is not only for golf but also for Philippine sports. The accomplishment was crafted when the country needs sporting heroes other than Pacquiao, the punching machine from General Santos City who is up for another big battle come March.
Boxing takes a backseat for the moment to give way for two golfing champions who put on a fantastic performance on the final day of competition in faraway Sun City, South Africa.
Trailing early on, Rosales and Delasin had an amazing back nine to rattle off the fighting South Koreans and eventually won by two shots. Thanks to a blazing seven-under 65 that matched the pair's first day score.
Delasin sealed the victory with a 15-foot putt for birdie on the par-5 18th and, after three days of battle, the Pinay shotmakers finished at 18-under at the Gary Player Country Club.
South Korea's Ji-Yai Shin and Eun-Hee Ji were comfortably in the lead after nine holes, but Rosales and Delasin got six birdies in their final drive.
Asked to describe her 18th-hole birie, Delasin replied: "I had an angel with me on that (putt). I had no fear. I just crossed my fingers and hit it."
Hit it she did, and the Philippines is back in the world golfing map.
