Atwal continues 3M Open surge; season’s third win for Ridhima

By Rahul Banerji

A blemish-free round saw Arjun Atwal continue his superb comeback from an extended back problem at the 3M Open in Blaine, USA, even as compatriot Anirban Lahiri got his focus back to comfortably make the cut on Friday.

Following up on his first day’s 65, Atwal came home with a 3-under par 68 and shared seventh place even as the studious Bryson DeChambeau (-14, 128) turned up the heat with a 62 and a two-shot lead over Canada’s Adam Hadwin.

Atwal was alongside three others at 9-under 133 (65, 68) in only his third start on the PGA Tour this year and fifth overall. Just five shots sit between him and the top of the leader-board, already making for a remarkable story for the 46-year-old.

Making ground

Forty-eight places astern is someone far more regular on the PGA Tour. Anirban Lahiri sits in tied 55^th place, up 37 spots after his Thursday round that included two damaging double bogeys. On Friday, however, Lahiri was much more on point.

Two early dropped shots suggested his off form was spilling over into the second day but six birdies thereafter, three on either side of the turn, saw him climb to safety on 4-under 138 and comfortably about the cut line that came two shots below.

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But Atwal is the one in the news for the moment. Speaking to Golf Digest, he said, “It feels good to be in the hunt, but it actually just feels good to be playing a tournament.

“I’ve got nothing to prove at this point. I’ve won on every tour that I’ve played on. That doesn’t mean I don’t want to win. I’m here to try to win the tournament. But whatever happens I’m good with it.

“I didn’t really expect anything this week. I figured if I just made the cut it would be a good week for me.

 “I’m a lot older, broken down body, I haven’t really played since March. Again, I’m just happy to be playing.”

Happy to be playing, and happy days for his numerous fans at home and elsewhere.

Title no. 3 for Ridhima

In Bangalore, Ridhima Dilawari held her nerve in the closing stages of the final round to stave off a strong challenge from Afshan Fatima and Neha Tripathi to win her third title of the season on the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour at the Prestige Golfshire on Friday.

Ridhima started the round with a four shot lead, but Afshan had wiped that out by the 10th hole. A dropped shot on the very next hole opened the door for Ridhima again and this time, she made no mistake, adding one birdie and parring the rest on her card.

Afshan did manage one more birdie but was unable to do more to force a play-off.

Ridhima had two bogeys against that one crucial birdie while Afshan had three birdies against two bogeys as she cut the deficit from four shots to one for her best finish of the season.

Suspenseful ending

Adding to the suspense was Neha Tripathi, who opened bogey-bogey but pulled herself back with an eagle. She bogeyed twice more but on the back nine picked up three shots that carried her to within two shots of the winner.

Ridhima finished the day with 74 and was 3-over 219 for the week, while Afshan, who shot a 1-under 71 was 4-over 220 and Neha (72) third at 5-over 221.

Khushi Khanijau (73) finished fourth, while Gaurika Bishnoi who had a 74 was fifth. Astha Madan (79) ended sixth, Amandeep Drall (72) was seventh and Millie Saroha (81) was eighth.

Smriti Mehra and Siddhi Kapoor rounded off the Top-10.

Despite her fifth place finish, Gaurika and Neha stayed one-two in the Hero Order of Merit. Amandeep Drall is third and with her win, Ridhima moved up to fifth, one place behind Gursimar Badwal.

The 10th leg of the current season will be played at the Bangalore Golf Club next week.

Also read: Lahiri books US Open berth with second place finish in qualifier