By Rahul Banerji
Aditi Ashok made a strong start at the 13th Cognizant Founders Cup, holding a share of fourth place along with five others after her opening round on Thursday.
She had teed off alongside Ashleigh Buhai and Lizette Salas looking to extend a recent solid run of form and was 3-under 69, a shot behind joint leaders Cheyenne Knight, Atthaya Thitikul and Maddie Szeryk.
The $3 million LPGA event is being played at the Upper Montclair Country Club in New Jersey with five past winners and eight of the top 10 players in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings in the field.
Playing from the back nine, Aditi swapped two birdies for one dropped shot before the turn and then had three birdies against one further bogey on her way back to the clubhouse.
Thursday’s round continued an excellent recent run of form for the Indian star that has seen her take a win and two top-threes on the Ladies European Tour and a T2 in her first LPGA start of the season.
Two weeks ago, Aditi returned her best result on the LPGA at the JM Eagle LA Championship in California. She tweeted thereafter that the performance at Wilshire Country Club has been an especially pleasing one.
Having gone into a three-way playoff, Aditi missed out to eventual winner Hannah Green of Australia and shared second place alongside China’s Lin Xiyu.
It was the best result for the 25-year-old from Bangalore in seven straight seasons on the premier women’s professional circuit.
Still searching
With four Ladies European Tour titles, Aditi while still winless on the LPGA was happy with her display in Los Angeles.
“I think overall it was a good week.” Aditi told the LPGA website then. “I’ve never played in this position on the LPGA, to be near the lead on the first day and stay there the whole tournament.
“The competition is just so deep out here. Ten people have a good tournament but only one can win. I’m happy with the way I played.”
The Tokyo Olympics star has also had to overcome a couple of difficult years but started her 2023 campaign with a win at the Magical Kenya Ladies Open on the Ladies European Tour where she tops the Race to Costa Del Sol rankings.
On the LPGA’s Race to CME Globe Season order of merit, Aditi is currently placed 20th.
Diksha leads the way
Meanwhile, in the LET’s Jabra Ladies Open, Amandeep Drall, Diksha Dagar, Seher Atwal, Tvesa Malik, and Vani Kapoor were all in action at the Evian Resort Golf Club.
On level par 71 Diksha was the best-placed Indian in a share of 15th place in a completed round that had two birdies against as many bogies.
Amandeep Drall was next on one over 72 while Vani, Tvesa and Seher were well down the order as Anne Van Dam of the Netherlands led the way with an opening 6-under par 65.
Also read: Aditi Ashok brings in her best LPGA finish at Los Angeles event
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