Ahead of them, Dottie Ardina in a dramatic finish over the last six holes, took the title by one shot. Ardina shot 70 and totaled 211, one ahead of Hyo Joo Kim who had 212 with rounds of 69, 69 and 74. Ji Hee Kim and Gauri Monga totaled 213. Monga had rounds of 73, 70 and 70, while Ji Hee Kim had rounds of 76, 68 and 69.

The Koreans (425) retained the title for the fifth time in succession, while Philippines (429) were second. China (441) were third, beating hosts Indian (442) by one shot.

The Indian team, comprising Monga, Vani Kapoor and Aditi Ashok, finished fourth in team standings, which equaled Indian team’s performance of 1986. But the total score of 442 by the Indian was their best-ever in history.

Vani Kapoor came good on the final day with her best for the week with a 73. Aditi Ashok shot 80. India’s third score was one-under 143 with Gauri’s 70 and Vani’s 73 counting.

The previous best by an Indian team was fourth place in 1986 by Nonita Lall, Shiraz Shaheed and Ranjit Grewal. Nonita, now the coach of the Indian team, said, “This is however the best score by an Indian team and Gauri’s score is best by an individual. They really played well.”

Gauri, starting the day in tied third kept her nerve to birdie the 18th after going into the bunker to stay tied third. It was the first-ever top-3 finish by an Indian golfer in Queen Sirikit Cup’s 33-year-long history.

“The unfortunate double bogey on the ninth cost me dear,” said the 17-year-old Gauri, who had her best international outing. “I am happy with the way I played. I missed some close putts and then after a great first eight holes, during which I had three birdies, I dropped two shots on ninth.”

Gauri hit the branch with her second shot and landed in deep rough after coming out she ended with a double. The gritty Indian girl dropped another bogey on 11th after going into the left bunker. “But I did not allow myself to think about that had a good birdie on 15th and a great par save on 16th with an up-and-down. Then came the birdie on the 18th, as I holed it from nearly 20 feet.” She earlier holed a 25-footer on the third.

“It was such a big relief after three tense days. It is a difficult course and I tried to hit straight as I am not a long hitter,” said Ardina.

“It was a tense finish and I am glad I came through,” added the 17-year-old Ardina, who trains at the David Leadbetter Schools in Florida since 2008. “I played the Queen Sirikit Cup in 2007 and then I could not come for the event, because it clashed with school in US. This year I skipped the first semester and came over. I am glad I held by my cool and won. Hyo is a very good player, but it was my day.”

Hyo, who was three shots clear after two rounds, was four shots ahead after the 12th, which she double bogeyed. Then Ardina birdied the 13th and 14th with 10-foot and three foot putts. Hyo parred the 13th and bogeyed the 14th. That suddenly narrowed the lead to just one at the 15th.

Ardina parred the 16th, while a tense Hyo double bogeyed the hole to fall one back for the first time in the tournament and that is how the standings stayed with both parring the 16th and 17th and then both got birdies on the last.

Final scores of leading players after third and final round at 33rd Queen Sirikit Cup golf at Delhi Golf Club:

211: Dottie Ardina (Phi) (71-70-70),

212: Hyo Joo Kim (Kor) (69-69-74)

213: Ji Hee Kim (Kor) (76-68-69)

213: Gauri Monga (Ind) (73-70-70)

218: Cecilia Cho (NZL) (76-71-71)

219: Sakuro Kito (Jpn) (74-75-70)

220: Feng Simin (Chn) (74-73-73)

222: Yan Jing (Chn) (79-72-71)

223: Jayvie Marie Agojo (Phi) (78-71-74)

224: Jaruporn Ayutthaya (Tha) 78-73-73); Yi Chen Liu (Tpe) (77-70-77), Aretha Pan (Mal) (77-70-77)

Other Indians:

Vani Kapoor: 234 (84-77-73) 27th place

Aditi Ashok 240 (79-80-81) 35th place

Teams: (Two best scores counted for each day)

425: Korea (Hyo Joo Kim, Ji Hee Kim and In Gee Chun)

429: Philippines (Dottie Ardina, Jayvie Marie Agojo and Chihero Ikeda)

441: China (Feng Simin, Yan Jing and Lin Xiyu)

442: India (Gauri Monga, Vani Kapoor and Aditi Ashok)

450: Chinese Taipei (Yi Chen Liu, Chi Wang, Chieh Lin Chiu)