Ahmedabad: Vani Kapoor carried forward her stellar form of 2015 into the New Year, carding a superb 3 under 69 in the final round to win the first leg of the Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour at the Kensville Golf & Country Club here on Thursday. Overnight leader Kiran Matharu could not sustain the momentum and had to settle for a second place finish. The INR 7,00,000 event culminated today.

Delhi’s Vani Kapoor had struggled with the conditions in the last two rounds and started the day at third position. However, she was in terrific form today and played a blemish free round, firing three birdies on the 12th, 14th and 16th holes to finish with a total score of 223 after 54 holes. In the process, she also carded the only sub-par round of the event. Overseas player Kiran Matharu had an indifferent start and carded a double bogey on the 2nd hole. Thereafter, she tried to stage a comeback, but her three birdies on the 3rd, 4th and 8th holes were neutralized by the same number of bogies on the 11th, 12th and 14th holes. With a total score of 226, she had to settle for the runners up prize.

Chandigarh’s Saaniya Sharma carded 1 over 73 on the final day to clinch the third position. She carded two birdies on the 5th and 9th holes, with an equal number of bogies on the 2nd and 7th in her front nine. She added two more bogies in her back nine on the 10th and 18th holes along with a lone birdie on the 16th to finish with a total score of 228 after the final round.

Panchkula’s Amandeep Drall and Kapurthala golfer Gursimar Badwal finished tied fourth with identical scores of 233. Amandeep’s card of 3 over 75 included two birdies on the 6th and 7th holes along with bogies on the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 15th and 17th holes. Gursimar had an impressive start and played a blemish free front nine with two birdies on the 5th and 6th holes. However, dropped shots on the 14th, 16th and 17th holes spoilt her score line and she finished the day with a score of 1 over 73 in the final round.

Kolkata’s Smriti Mehra and Delhi’s Mehar Atwal finished tied sixth with the identical scores of 237 after the final round. They were followed by Delhi’s Ankita Tiwana and Pune’s Shweta Galande who were placed eighth and ninth respectively. Shweta Galande and Neha Tripathi carded an eagle apiece on the day, taking the eagle count to three in the first leg.

The Tour now moves to Kalhaar Blues & Greens, Ahmedabad for the second leg to be played from 11th to 14th January.