Amandeep edges out Ananya Garg to win Clover Greens title

Amandeep Drall with her trophy and winner’s cheque at Clover Greens on Friday. Image courtesy WGAI.

By Rahul Banerji

Amandeep Drall made her journey from Sweden to India for the Clover Greens leg of the Hero Women’s Indian Open worthwhile with a two-shot win over young Ananya Garg on Friday.

Amandeep, who played the Hills Open in Sweden and then rushed to India in time for the Hosur event, held her nerve in the tense closing stages to card 1 under par 71 and a total 2 under 214, the WGAI said.

Ananya, Rookie of the Year n 2024, played superbly and even held a one-shot lead with two holes to go.

However, she bogeyed 17 and then dropped a double bogey on the tricky Par-3 closing 18. In contrast Amandeep bogeyed 17^th and parred. 18 after teeing off dead level on 2 under each.

It was Amandeep’s second title of the season, and she became the third player to win more than once this year. 

Vani Kapoor (four times) and Sneha Singh (twice) have been the other multiple winners.

Early break

Amandeep and Ananya playing together were tied at 1 under at the start and the former went ahead early as Amandeep bogeyed the opening hole. 

She fought back with birdies on four and five, while Ananya only managed one on five to stay tied for the lead.

The see-saw battle continued as Amandeep bogeyed eight but birdied nine and Ananya double bogeyed eight and birdied nine.

At the turn Ananya was one behind but caught up with a birdie on 11.

Amandeep again forged ahead with a birdie on 15^, but Ananya hit back with a birdie on 16.

Both players dropped a shot on 17, taking it down to the 18th hole.

Anvitha Narender seemed to be in the picture for the first 15 holes at which point she was 3-under for the day and 1-under for the tournament. 

Falling away

She faltered thereafter with bogey on 15 and a double on 18 to finish 2 over and third tied with Ridhima Dilawari (73), who had three birdies, two bogeys and a double on the par-4 15^th.

Khushi Khanijau, one of the four co-leaders overnight concedeed a double bogey on eight and also dropped three shots in the last four holes for a 76.

Jasmine Shekar (74) and Sneha Singh (76) were tied for sixth on 4 over 220, while Rhea Purvi Sarvanan (71) was eighth and Durga Nittur (73) ninth.

Amateur Mannat Brar, also one of the overnight joint leaders, fell apart on Friday with an 80 and 10^thplace.

There was a hole-in-one by Anaggha Venkatesh on the 130-yard Par-3 11^th, where she nailed a 7-iron. She hit into a headwind and had a perfect shot, which was one of the highlights of the week.

The win carried Amandeep(Rs. 11,67,967) to second behind Vani Kapoor (Rs.14,43,667), who did not play this week. 

Ridhima, second at the start of week dropped to third with earnings of Rs. 11,64,000 while Jasmine Shekar (Rs. 10,85,500) is fourth and Sneha Singh (Rs.10,23,567) fifth.

Also read: Amandeep in tie for lead at Clover Greens leg of Hero WPGT