Amateur Aditi Ashok made a scintillating comeback to stun her opponents and walk away with the title in the 11th leg of Hero Women's Professional Golf Tour at the KGA here today.
Bengaluru based Aditi was at her regal best, playing a flawless round of 8 under 64 which not only powered her to victory by 2 strokes, but in the process also set up a new course record for ladies at the KGA.
Delhi golfer Vani finished second with a total score of 216, followed by Sharmila Nicollet who ended with a total of 218 after 54 holes. The INR 700,000 event was the 11th in the 2015 calendar.
Aditi who began the day in tied 8th position started her campaign with aplomb and played a blemish free record setting round of 8 under 64. She fired three birdies in the front nine on the 2nd, 4th and 9th holes. She seemed to get better and better as the round progressed, firing five birdies in the back nine on the 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th and 18th holes to end her campaign with a total score of 214.
Aditi thus become the second amateur to win a professional event this year. She re-wrote WGAI's record books by registering the lowest single round score on the tour, bettering the earlier record of 7 under 65 set by veteran Smriti Mehra earlier this year.
Hero Order of Merit leader Vani Kapoor came up with an effort of 1 under 71 to finish in the second position and walk away with the winner's cheque by virtue of being a professional. She carded birdies on the 5th, 10th, 14th and 15th holes, while dropping shots on the 1st,9th and 18th. Vani's performance here will now open up a substantial lead for her in the money list.
Hero Motocorp sponsored Sharmila Nicollet, who was in good form yesterday and ended in tied 1st position, returned with a score of 1 over 73 on the final day to finish third. The local sensation fired four birdies on the 7th, 10th, 11th and 13th holes, but a bogey on the 17th, and two doubles on the 4th and 6th spoilt her chances to win her first title this year.
Rookie Amandeep Drall returned with a card of 1 under 71 in the final round and took the fourth position with a total score of 220. The Panchkula golfer carded birdies on the 3rd, 11th, 15th and 16th holes, while dropping shots on the 6th, 13th and 18th.
