Hosur: Gaurika Bishnoi, starting the final round four shots behind the overnight leader Gursimar Badwal, staged a fine rally to register her second win of the season on the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour. Gaurika played very steady in the final round as she dropped just one bogey while picking up six birdies, three of which came in the last five holes.
Gaurika’s 67 saw her total eight-under 208, which was three clear of amateur Pranavi Urs, who registered the second 66 of the tournament. Pranavi, who began the week with a 76, recovered well over the final two days with 69-66 for a fine performance.
Gursimar Badwal, who had played so well on the first two days, had a rough final day with just one birdie. She had two bogeys, but what put her out of contention was the triple bogey eight on the Par-5 14th. She finished in a tie for third alongside Amandeep Drall (70) and Tvesa Malik (68).
Ridhima Dilawari, who seemed out of sorts in the first two rounds when she shot 73-74, finally found her form, though a little late. However, the round of 68 will help her confidence for the upcoming events. She finished sixth at one-under 215, as six players finished the week with under par totals, indicating a growing depth in Indian women’s golf. There were two 66s and a 67 in the 15 under-par rounds in a week of impressive golf.
Gaurika birdied the second and dropped her only bogey of the day at fourth. Thereafter she was flawless, with birdies on sixth and eighth to turn in two-under 35. On the back nine, after four pars, she birdied 14th, 16th and 18th for a final card of 67.
Pranavi, a very good upcoming talent, was also two-under for the front nine and was two-under till the 12th with four birdies against two bogeys. On the last five holes, she had a hat-trick of birdies from 14th to 16th and another on 18th for four-under 31 and a total of 66, the second time this score was recorded this week. The earlier 66 came from Gursimar Badwal on the second day.
Amandeep had a rough front nine with bogeys on third and fourth, but four birdies on the back nine against no bogeys saw her card 70 and finish in a tie for third.
Winner Gaurika and Amandeep, winner of the previous two events at Clover Greens, were the only players to play all three rounds under par.
Astha Madan (72) was seventh at one-over 217, while amateur Asmitha Sathish (72) and Ananya Datar (72) were tied-eighth. Neha Tripathi (72) and Millie Saroha (75) were tied-10th.
There were 29 starters, of which 28 finished. This was the largest field in a domestic WGAI event ever, which carried a record Rs.10 lakh purse.
Gaurika also moved to the top of the Hero WPGT Order of Merit with two wins in six starts and total earnings of Rs.6,12,800. She went past Neha Tripathi (Rs. 5,56,800) and Gursimar Badwal (Rs.5,20,133). The fourth player with over Rs.5 lakhs is Amandeep Drall (Rs.5,11,333).
