KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian golfer Ashley Lau wrapped up the year with a creditable top-20 finish at the Simone Asia-Pacific Cup in Indonesia today.
The 23-year-old carded a final round of one-over 73 to finish her campaign in tied-17th on a three-day total of one-over 217 - 15 shots back of winner Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand at the Pondok Indah Golf Course in Jakarta.
Ashley shot 73 and 71 in the first and second rounds respectively.
World No. 9 Atthaya lived up to her billing as the highest-ranked in the 58-player field, shooting a 69 for 14-under and won by a whopping seven-shot over second-placed Lee Da Yeon of South Korea, who carded a final round 71.
Geraldine Wong was the other Malaysian in action, marking her international debut as a professional by coming joint 41st after closing with a 74 for 227.
The Ladies Asian Tour Series tournament also features a team competition and the duo's combined efforts placed them in 15th place out of 28 teams on 12-over 444.
Ashley was pleased by how things panned out for her. "Putting could have been a lot better, but I'll take it as it is and work on my putting, but, overall, I just had fun this week," she said.
"I feel like I haven't had fun playing golf in a while, so it's just nice to have that feeling again."
Geraldine said: "I think it was good. It was very good experience. I think the nerves kind of got to me after every round, especially on, like, when it comes to the 14, 15 holes, when I'm about to finish out.
"I think I got nervous finishing out, and then I didn't know how to handle it. So I kind of fumbled a bit here and there on the last few, but other than that, it's been a very good week for me."
Powered by Atthaya's individual brilliance, Team Thailand 2 who comprised also Jaravee Boonchant, dominated the team contest with a seven-shot margin after compiling an aggregate of 15-under 417.
They finished way ahead of of two Korean teams - Korea 5, represented by Kim Min Sol-Lee Hyo Song and Team Korea 4 featuring Hwang You Min-Kim Min Byeol, who finished on match 424s.