By Rahul Banerji
Aditi Ashok began her 2023 season on the Ladies European Tour with a win in Kenya and ended it in Spain on Sunday with the same result.
The 25-year-old from Bangalore finished the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España on 17 under par 271 (69-68-68-66), two ahead of the Netherlands’ Ann Van Dam (69-71-65-68, 273).
The result reversed the outcome of their last showdown at the same event in 2019 when Aditi finished one shot behind the then defending champion and winner Van Dam, 12-under to the Dutch player’s 13 under tournament total.
It was the Ladies PGA regular’s fifth LET title, having won the Kenya Open to kickstart her international season.
Making it a red letter day for Indian women’s golf, Diksha Dagar rounded off her year-long LET campaign with a share of seventh place on 10 under 278 (72-71-68-67).
The result gave Diksha third place in the Race to Costa Del Sol final standings with Aditi taking fourth place, yet another outstanding result for the two who have had their best-ever season since turning professional.
Thailand’s Trichat Cheenglab took top place in the Order of Merit on 1966.52 points.
Frenchwoman Celine Boutier who too had a year to remember was second on 1,876.88 points, while Diksha and Aditi collected 1,825.11 and 1,809.19 points respectively for their third and fourth places.
Worthwhile prize
Her position in the merit standings also gave Diksha a slot in the final stage of the LPGA’s Qualifying Series in Mobile, Alabama, to be played over six rounds between November 30 and December 5.
According to the LET website, Aditi said she was enjoying the challenge posed by variable conditions at the Real Club de Golf Las Brisas course after the first two rounds.
“It’s been good, obviously I travelled from Florida last week and got here on Tuesday so considering that I think it’s been a good opening two rounds,” Aditi was quoted as saying.
“Hopefully, I can use what I’ve learnt from the golf course over these two days and keep that going the next two days as well.
“Today, the wind was opposite to yesterday, so it made some of the tee shots difficult because you’re hitting a different line and a different club. It’s something to adjust to, but we’ve been taking it one hole at a time and that’s been working so far.”
Bookend season
The two-time Olympian secured her fourth LET victory at the season-opener – the Magical Kenya Ladies Open in February and led the Order of Merit for much of the early part of the year. She started in ninth place in Spain before her final fourth place in the standings.
“I always enjoy playing on the LET and whenever I get a chance, I always want to play on this Tour too,” the LPGA regular said.
“It’s great, I know I couldn’t make this event last year, but I enjoy playing in the season-ending event because they take us to different courses. That’s something I always look forward to.
“I think I’ve played three or four different courses in the area; I always look forward to that and I’m happy I can be here. I started the season really well on the LET, so hopefully I can add to some of those good finishes this week.”
Also read: Tvesa Malik tops as six Indians enter LET Q-School final stage
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