Jaipur: Pune’s Shweta Galande held her nerves to pip Gursimar Badwal and Vani Kapoor in a thrilling three-way playoff on the 9th hole to win the season ending 18th leg of the Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour 2015 here at the Rambagh Golf Club. The INR 5,00,000 event culminated today.
Overnight leader Shweta Galande carded 1 over 72 on the final day to claim her second professional title. Shweta’s front nine was a mixed bag wherein she carded two birdies on the 2nd and 4th holes along with an equal number of bogies on the 3rd and 5th. She added another birdie to her tally on the 13th hole. However, bogies on the 12th and 17th holes forced her into a three way play off as she finished with a total score of 217 along with Vani Kapoor and Gursimar Badwal after the final round.
Delhi’s Vani Kapoor started the day in second position, and returned with an even par score on day three to end tied second. The Hero of Merit leader started cautiously carding a lone birdie on the 7th hole, while dropping two shots on the 3rd and the 6th holes in her front nine. She fired two more birdies on the 15th and 17th holes. She just needed a par on the final hole to win her sixth title of the year, but Vani ended with a bogie on the 18th hole that dented her chances and she eventually lost in the playoff.
Kapurthala’s Gursimar Badwal who started the day in tied third position came up with an effort of 1 under 70 to finish tied second at the Rambagh Golf Club. Her round consisted of three birdies on the 6th, 12th and 15th holes as against bogies on the 9th and 10th holes.
Kolkata’s Smriti Mehra and Panchkula’s Amandeep Drall finished with identical totals of 220 to end tied fourth. Smriti Mehra returned a card of 2 under 69, the best score of the day. She fired four birdies on the 8th, 9th, 16th and 17th holes, while dropping shots on the 6th and 18th. Her tally of four birdies was the maximum by any player on the day. Rookie Amandeep Drall carded 2 over 73 and her round included two birdies on the 1st and 5th holes, along with the same number of bogies on the 13th and 18th holes, and also a double on the 2nd.
Overseas player Kiran Matharu returned a card of 2 over 73 to total 222 to finish sixth. Her round consisted of three bogies on the 1st, 7th and 10th holes as against a lone birdie on the 15th hole. Delhi’s Ankita Tiwana carded 4 over 75 to end with a total score of 224 after 54 holes. She had an eventful day on the field as she fired in three birdies on the 15th, 16th and 17th holes, while dropping shots on the 3rd, 5th, 11th, 13th, and 18th holes, along with a double bogey on the 12th.
Jaipur’s Afshan Fatima ended with a score of 225 to be placed eighth followed by Kolkata’s Neha Tripathi in the ninth position with a score of 228.
After a short break the new season of HWPGT 2016 will commence in January next year.
Samikshan Dutta Choudhury
