Aditi Ashok extends her lead at Magical Kenya Ladies Open

By Rahul Banerji

Two-time Olympian Aditi Ashok fired a flawless four under par 69 to take a six-shot lead into the final day of the Magical Kenya Ladies Open at Vipingo Ridge on Saturday.

Aditi followed cards of 67 and 70 to extend her domination of the opening event on the 2023 Ladies European Tour with a 13-under par 206.

The 2016 Hero Women’s Indian Open champion last won on the LET at the 2017 Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open.

Two-time national champion Avani Prashanth shot a level par 73 to hold a share of 19^th place on four over par 223 to follow scores of 75 and 75 for the first two days.

Amandeep Drall (74-74-83) was the other Indian in the field down in tied 53rd following an unexpected off day that included a quadruple bogey and two doubles.

Well-paced effort

After a steady start Aditi knocked in three birdies before making the turn and then added a fourth on her way back to the clubhouse.

“It was really good,” Aditi – runner-up in Kenya three years ago – told the LET website later.

“The first couple of holes, I was actually looking at bogeys. I almost hit out of bounds on the first hole, but after that, my round was more steady and bogey-free is always a positive.

“I think when the wind is up sometimes you hole putts but sometimes you don’t, so you have to make sure you’re always hitting the greens and taking the big numbers out of play.

“Then you’re always there looking at birdie even if you don’t make it.”

Even though she holds a six-shot edge over Thailand’s April Angurasaranee, Aditi knows there’s a job to finish.

“I have never actually played with such a lead. I’m trying not to think about it too much and just set some small goals for each hole or each six holes and every nine.

“Being bogey-free has been one of my goals every day and I’m glad I got there today and hopefully I can do some of that tomorrow.”

April Angurasaranee was seven-under-par after a three under 70 on day three.

Also read: Aditi Ashok leads Magical Kenya Ladies Open by five shots