By Rahul Banerji
Avani Prashanth won her second title of the season, holding off Amandeep Drall by a shot in the 11th leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour at Panchkula on Friday.
Avani and Amandeep played level par rounds as the former kept her overnight margin to emerge victor.
The teenaged amateur from Bangalore totalled 2-under par 214, while the seasoned Amandeep aggregated 1-under 215 for the three days.
Pranavi Urs (76), Jahanvi Bakshi (73) and Vani Kapoor (73) were tied for third on 4-over 219. Seher Atwal (75) was sixth on 221 and Rhea Jha (73) seventh.
Saaniya Sharma, amateur Kriti Chowhan and Hitaashee Bakshi were eighth, ninth and 10th.
Avani, who divides her time between the pro and amateur circuits won in Mumbai and was second in Gurgaon and last week in Chandigarh.
Course record
There was more good news for Avani, whose 66 in the second round, and also by Saaniya Sharma, was confirmed as the ladies scoring record at the Panchkula Golf Club.
Starting her final round a shot behind Avani, the experienced Amandeep bridged the gap with a birdie on the second hole.
However, a dropped shot on the par-5 fifth gave the lead back to Avani, who parred the first six holes.
Avani landed her first birdie on the seventh but gave that away on the next hole. At the turn, she was still one ahead.
The others had fallen way behind, and it was a straight contest between the two at the top.
On the back nine, while Avani birdied 11 and 12, Amandeep birdied one and bogeyed the other, giving Avani a three-shot cushion.
Battle of nerves
There was to be another twist as Avani dropped shots on 13 and 15, while Amandeep birdied 15 to pull level with the young amateur again.
With two holes left, it was now about their holding nerve. Amandeep bogeyed 17 while Avani parred her final two holes.
Pranavi Urs had a disappointing final day as she dropped three shots in the first nine holes.
On the back nine she had three bogeys in a row from 15 to 17 against two birdies for the day for a 76 and a tie for third with Vani Kapoor and Jahanvi.
Amandeep continues to lead the Hero Order of Merit, while Vani remains second.
Amandeep has now won Rs.15,01,900, while Vani has Rs.13,00,500. Jahanvi Bakshi became the third player to cross the Rs.10 lakh mark with earnings of Rs.10,67,733.
Hitaashee, Seher and Saaniya are fourth, fifth and sixth.
Also read: Bangalore teenager Avani Prashanth in the lead at Panchkula
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