Games-Yubol claims surprise golf gold for Thailand as Ashok crashes out

HANGZHOU, China : World number 206 Arpichaya Yubol claimed an unlikely gold medal in the women's golf at the Asian Games with a two-stroke win on Sunday as India number one Aditi Ashok gave up a seven-shot lead in a disastrous meltdown to settle for silver.

Yubol shot a four-under round of 68 to finish with an 19-under total of 269 at the West Lake International golf course in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou, snatching the lead from Ashok at the par-three 16th when the Indian found water to crash to a double-bogey.

The 21-year-old Thai curled in a sumptuous birdie putt on the 17th to take a two-stroke cushion into the last hole, then tapped in for par for the biggest win of her career.

Yubol's victory helped Thailand also claim the women's team gold in a banner day for the nation's golf. Tears welled up as she embraced her ecstatic team mates Eila Galitsky and Patcharajutar Kongkraphanon the green.

"I'm so happy, and I made the Thai people proud that I can get two more gold medals," Yubol told reporters.

"This is my first Asian Games and that I can get the gold medal makes me proud of myself."

Having shot a magical 61 in the third round - the finest round of her career - Ashok teed off on Sunday with a seven-shot lead but ended up carding a five-under 77.

After picking up bogeys on the third and sixth, she steadied with a birdie on the ninth but dropped further strokes at the 1th and 15th before disaster struck at the 16th.

Hangzhou was the second big disappointment for Ashok at a major multi-sport Games, having missed out on a medal at the Tokyo Olympics by a stroke after being in contention right to the finish.

"I wasn't inconsistent like today," she said of the Olympics, where New Zealand's former world number one Lydia