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SOUTH AMERICANS CLAIM SHOCK WIN
Emerging golf nation Colombia proved the surprise package at the International Pairs world final at Celtic Manor. Pablo Hernandez, 20, and Julio Garcia Salas, 28, romped to a four-point win from English teenagers Robbie Turner, 17, and Ian Ritchie, 16. It was nine-handicapper Hernandez?s first visit to the UK and Salas? first time playing golf in the country ? but the warm weather must have felt like home. They were not fazed by playing Wentwood Hills, a course which will host the Ryder Cup in 2010 and were seldom threatened.

And they hope the surprise victory will help raise the profile of golf back home. Salas, who plays off 12, said: ?I hope our success will encourage more children to take up the game. Golf is developing quickly in our country and news of this win will be on television and in papers and all of the golf clubs.

?That?s very exciting for us. We have about 20 golf clubs in Colombia but it is already popular among children.?

He added: ?We have had a really exciting time. The course is fantastic and the competition is amazing. Representing your country is a tremendous honour and there are some great golfers here representing their countries.

?We?re just getting used to the fact that we are world champions. It?s wonderful.?

The good-humoured duo were popular winners and their modesty and charm will ensure they are fine ambassadors for golf, Colombia and the International Pairs.

Runners-up Turner and Ritchie, who played off five and nine respectively at from Wychwood Park, Cheshire, had narrowed the gap to just one point with just a few holes to play. But the Colombians simply had too much on the day and completed the victory.

Salas said: ?They told us we were just one point ahead when we were on 15. I went to pieces but Pablo pulled me through for the rest.?

Hernandez added: ?It was like that all through the 36 holes - one of us pulling the other along. It?s teamwork and we play a lot of four-ball events at home.?

Scottish men?s champions Gary Tough and Iain Thomson were third with 81 points ? a tally made even more creditable considering Tough, the head greenkeeper at Edzell Golf Club, plays off plus two and Thomson was cramming for his medical finals between rounds.

Individual honours on the final day went to South African management consultant and five-handicapper Paul Adams who holed his tee shot at the 205-yard, par-three 11th.

The International Pairs is the largest event for club golfers in the world. Already 32 countries are signed up to compete for the 2006 competition.

This year?s UK final takes place at St Andrews Bay Golf Resort & Spa in October and clubs can still register to take part. At just ?5 per person, it requires just four good rounds of golf for anybody to represent their country at the 2006 world final.

Result: 1, Pablo Hernandez/Julio Garcia Salas (Colombia) 85; 2, Robbie Turner/Ian Ritchie (England) 81; 3, Gary Tough/Iain Thomson (Scotland) 80.

Photo (C) Paul Severn 2005
Pete Richardson Communications on 2005-06-10