Dramatic win for Singapore lions

TEARS flowed as Singapore celebrated their first Putra Cup triumph for 26 years at Fanling yesterday.

In a dramatic climax to the 33rd Southeast Asian amateur team championship, the Singaporeans survived a spirited Philippines fightback to emerge victorious by four strokes.

As Mardan Mamat walked off the 18th green of the New Course he was embraced by Singapore's non-playing captain Douglas Ooi. Tears poured down the cheeks of both men.

Ooi, whose country's only previous Putra Cup triumph came in 1967 said: ''We've waited a long time for this and I hope we don't have to wait another 26 years for the next win.'' Singapore finished with an overall team score of 640. Their final-round tally of 219 was made up of a 71 from Dino Kwek Beng Kwee, 72 from Mamat and 76 from Lam Chih-bing.

Before savouring the sweet taste of success in the Carlsberg-sponsored event, Ooi and his players had endured an emotional roller-coaster.

Nine strokes clear of the Philippines going into the final round in the tournament reduced to 54 holes, following the cancellation of Thursday's second round due to rain, the Singaporean quartet of Mamat, Kwek, Lam and Mohammed Said began solidly.

With 10 holes remaining their overnight lead was still intact. But when Mamat took a double-bogey six at the ninth, the young Singapore lions - with an average age of 23 - began to show signs of panic.