By Rahul Banerji
Indian amateur Anika Varma rounded off her engagements on the western US-based Cactus Tour with a fair degree of success, her results including a tied second place finish and two top-10 placings.
The 16-year-old from Noida, currently based in Rosemont, California, played five tournaments in all on her five-tournament swing through Arizona.
The final result was a tie for 11th place in her final event at the Union Hills Country Club in Sun City earlier this week.
Incidentally, Carlota Ciganda, an LPGA and Ladies European Tour regular with over $5 million in career earnings, took part in an earlier Cactus Tour event. She also featured in the Hero Women’s Indian Open three years ago.
The Spaniard, LET rookie of the year, player of the year and Order of Merit topper in 2012, won the February 28 to 28 Morongo Legends tournament in Beaumont, California, two weeks before Anika joined the tour.
Anika, who now trains with California-based coach Noah Montgomery, rounded off her Arizona outing with a shared second place at the Sundance Golf Club.
A tied fifth at Apache Creek, T9 at the Sun City Country Club besides two results outside the top 10 summed up her outing overall.
Results
Moon Valley CC in Phoenix, March 18-20 T13 1 under 215
Sundance GC in Buckeye, March 25-27 T2 8 over 222
Sun City CC in Sun City March 31-April 2 T9, 6 over 222
Apache Creek in Apache Junction, April 8-10 T5 2 under 214
Union Hills CC in Sun City, April 13-15, T111 8 over 224
Anika’s sojourn, with numerous Corona-virus mandated precautions in place for the in place was an experience for the 16-year-old.
Speaking to Nitin Sharma of the Indian Express, she said: “My parents were supportive of my decision to play in Arizona.
“My coach helped me adjust to this new way of training during this outbreak. He helped me realise that everyone is fighting the outbreak in their own way.”
Added her mother Sonal, “When we decided to travel to Arizona, our relatives in India were worried. But they understood our decision.
“We are as safe here as in any other place. I would say we are safer than my elder daughter, who attends university in California. If something was not right, as a parent, I would not let Anika play,” she told the Indian Express.
“Once I start playing the game, I am entirely focused on golf,” added Anika.
“The precautions were at first a bit abnormal but vital to prevent the spread of the virus and also to continue playing the sport.”
Also read: At 16, Anika Varma showing steady progress on Western US Cactus Tour
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