RP makes it to World Cup

The Philippines advanced to the World Cup by finishing joint fifth in the Davidoff Nations Cup yesterday, securing the berth with a crucial birdie on the 72nd hole in a fashion that further underscored the Filipinos’ readiness to mix it up with the world’s best players in November.

Needing only a par to advance, Rodrigo Cuello and Danny Zarate instead holed out with a birdie on the par 4 18th, capping their brilliant teamup in the alternate shot format of the event which served as the qualifer for this year’s World Cup of Golf in Japan.

They closed out with a three-under par 69 for a 19-under 269 total which Cuello and Zarate anchored on a solid 64 and 66 in the better-ball play in the first and third rounds at the Royal Selangor Golf Club Course.

It was the second time in four years that the Philippines will see action in the World Cup after Cassius Casas and Zarate finished 26th in the 1997 edition of the event at the Kiawah Island in South Carolina.

World No. 1 Tiger Woods is expected to lead the title-retention bid of the United States in the World Cup slated Nov. 15-18 at the Taiheiyo Golf Club in Japan.

Cuello and Zarate’s feat was stunning since the gutsy pair, the top two Filipinos in the Asian PGA Tour rankings, was hardly given a second look at the start of the event, which replaced the Nations Cup and the Asian Nations Cup as the region’s sole qualifier for the World Cup.

China, behind the tandem of Ziang Lian-wei and Liang Wen-Chong, topped the 26-team elims with a 23-under 265 total, beating third round leader Malaysia with a closing 67. The hosts settled for a share of second place with Norway (70) at 266 after a 71.

Mexico rallied with a 67 to snatch fourth place at 267 while Holland carded a 70 to tie the Philippines for the last two slots.

Italy and Germany proved to be the biggest disappointment in the event. The Germans, composed of Alex Cejka and Thomas Gogele, finished eighth at 272 after a 71, while the Italians, led by Costantino Rocca and Baldovino Bassu, limped with a 73 for a 289.