New Delhi: Aditi Ashok, the current leader in the Order of Merit on the USHA Ladies and junior girls circuit, took a two-shot lead at the end of the opening day of the 2012 USHA Northern India Ladies amateur golf championship at the Delhi Golf Club. Aditi was two clear of arch-rival Gurbani Singh (72) and four ahead of Millie Saroha (74) in the ladies section.
The 14-year-old Aditi, who has also acquitted herself well against the professionals, had an excellent two-under for the day, which was also the only sub-par round of the day. She was even for the front nine with two birdies and two bogeys and she found two birdies on the back against no bogeys. It was a fine finish with birdies on the 15th and 18th. And she is now in a position to add to the two titles, including Usha Delhi Ladies she won at the same course earlier this season.
Gurbani also played steady, though she missed quite a few birdie chances, as did Aditi. Gurbani, who won the Southern India title earlier on, had two birdies, one each side of the turn, and two bogeys in her round.
Millie had three birdies, but she also gave away five bogeys to lie third.
Aditi, who is still in Category B, led her group and was nine ahead of Amrita Anand (79) while in Category A, Gurbani was two ahead of Millie Saroha and Astha Madan was lying third with 75.
In Category C, Sifat Sagoo and Dhristhi Karumbaya were tied at the top with rounds of 85 each, while in Category D, Tanishka Kumar was leading with a round of 91 and she was seven ahead of Vasundhara Tihara.
The USHA Northern Indian Ladies golf, one of the oldest tournaments in the country, sees more than 70 golfers compete in ladies and juniors sections.
This season both Aditi and Gurbani have been in good form. While Aditi won the USHA Army Ladies golf title in Secunderabad and also the USHA Delhi Ladies Golf championships, Gurbani upstaged her at the USHA Southern India championships. Aditi however holds a handy lead in the Merit list.
Last year’s winner of the USHA Northern India Ladies golf, Vani Kapoor has since turned professional. Gurbani was second last time and would like to improve on that. Aditi was third.
An encouraging feature in the past couple of seasons has been that the amateurs have not been shy of competing with the professionals. Taking a cue from Aditi Ashok, who has done well against professionals, the likes of Ankita Kedalya, Trisha Sunil, Suchitra Ramesh, Anisha Padukone and Tavleen Batra have used the opportunities to play against professionals.
With golf being included in the 2016 Olympics for the first time, Usha’s aim is to assist in bringing home a medal!
By Indian Sports News Network
