Amandeep coasts to four-shot win at Golden Greens WPGT leg

By Rahul Banerji

Amandeep Drall rode a roller coaster in the closing round but managed to hold onto her four-shot lead for a comfortable win in the fifth leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour on Friday.

The seasoned Panchkula golfer carded a 1 under 71 for the day and a tournament total of 10-under 278 in the Rs 19 lakh event played at Golden Greens Golf Club near Gurgaon, the WGAI said.

Amandeep, who last won 13 months ago, overcame two early bogeys and a double bogey to finish ahead of Gaurika Bishnoi who also shot a 71 to total 6 under 282.

The result was a redemption of sorts for the tour’s senior players after the younger brigade had swept the opening four legs – amateur Nishna Patel to start with, Sneha Singh (twice) and Hitaashee Bakshi in between.

Khushi Khanijau (73) was third on 3-under 285, while Hitaashee (72) and Ridhima Dilawari closed with an eagle for a 74 to complete the top five.

Amandeep, who began the final day with a four-shot lead, bogeyed the second and third holes, but with Gaurika also dropping a shot on the second, maintained a sizeable lead.

Both players birdied hole five, but Gaurika dropped a shot on six. A birdie on seven did give her a glimpse but Amandeep ensured there would be no hiccups with an eagle on the ninth, her fourth eagle of the week.

Fading challenge

On the back nine, Amandeep birdied 11 but dropped a double on 17. She shrugged that off with a closing birdie, as Gaurika managed only one birdie in her last 11 holes.

The win would have come as a relief for Amandeep, who after a drop in form lost her card on the Ladies European Tour.

For Gaurika, at her first start of 2024, it was a good result. She will be back for the sixth leg next week, as will Amandeep.

Seher Atwal and Neha Tripathi with 76s were tied for sixth, Ananya Garg (73) eighth and Lavanya Jadon (74) was the top amateur and ninth. Jasmine Shekar (70) and Astha Madan (72) rounded off the top 10.

Sneha Singh, who did not have a great week, did have her best round of the week on Friday with a 71 that included an eagle. She finished T-12 but it was not enough to keep her on the top of the Hero Order of Merit.

Hitaashee now has top honours with Sneha right behind her. Amandeep climbs to third with this win while Khushi Khanijau and Jasmine Shekar are fourth and fifth in the money list.

Also read: Amandeep builds four-shot cushion over Gaurika at Golden Greens