A winner at Beroun in 2023, Diksha Dagar is happy to be back at a course she feels comfortable on and seen here during a practice round ahead of the Czech Ladies Open. Image courtesy let.com.
By Rahul Banerji
Indian golfers will look to carry solid recent form into the Tipsport Czech Ladies Open, with former champion Diksha Dagar leading a six-member challenge at the Beroun Golf Club from Friday.
Dagar, Avani Prashanth and Pranavi Urs are in the Czech Republic after impressive results at last week’s Dutch Ladies Open, the WGAI said.
Diksha and Avani shared third place one shot behind the title playoff in the Netherlands and Pranavi was tied for fifth, giving them plenty of confidence heading into the next leg of the circuit.
Joining them in the field are Hitaashee Bakshi, Vani Kapoor and Ridhima Dilawari, making it one of the strongest Indian representations at a European event this season.
For Diksha, the venue holds special significance. The left-hander was a winner at Beroun in 2023 and returns seeking a second victory at a course she considers among her favourites on the LET schedule.
The 25-year-old also celebrated a major milestone recently, making her 150th LET appearance after joining the tour in 2019. She is currently 11th on the Order of Merit with four top-10 finishes this season.
“It’s amazing,” Diksha told the LET website on reaching the 150 mark. “I don’t know how the time flies away. I’ve just been focused on playing tournaments all over the world.
In gratitude
“It’s amazing that I’ve been able to achieve playing in so many tournaments – 150. I’m grateful to that. I wish to continue and get to 200 appearances.”
Diksha feels she is a far more complete player than when she lifted the trophy three years ago.
“I’m a much better player than I was when I won here because the learning process continues and it’s all about hard work,” she said on the LET website.
“Coming back here brings back amazing memories. It reminds me of which holes I played well and where I made birdies.”
The Asian Games-bound star is optimistic about her chances this week.
“I’m feeling pretty confident. I’m playing really good golf and I’m looking forward to playing this golf course again.
“Last week I was so close to winning. I had a birdie chance on each of the last six holes. Had one more had gone in I would have been close to winning.
Getting close
“But it’s OK. It’s a good sign that I’m getting closer to winning again. Hopefully it will be my day again soon.”
While Diksha has the advantage of past success at Beroun, Avani Prashanth enters the week with equally encouraging form.
The youngster has steadily built up momentum, finishing tied for fifth at the Jabra Ladies Open in France before following it up with a career-best placing at the Dutch Ladies Open.
Pranavi Urs received a confidence-boost after her first top-10 finish of the season last week.
One of India’s most promising young professionals, she will be aiming to build on that breakthrough result and climb further up the standings.
Hitaashee is looking to rediscover the form that saw her finish tied ninth at the Australian WPGA Championship earlier this year.
A difficult stretch has followed, with missed cuts in five of her last six starts, but she remains capable of producing a strong performance.
Vani Kapoor, one of the most successful players on the domestic circuit, earned her place through a sponsor invitation.
Last year, she had two top 10s on the LET including a tied-sixth finish at the Amundi German Masters and a top 10 result at the Hero Women’s Indian Open.
For Ridhima, it is a first LET appearance of the season and she will be hoping to make an impact.
Diksha is one of only three past champions in this week’s field. Home favourite Jana Melichova, the 2022 winner, and Spain’s Marta Martin, who triumphed in 2024, are the other past champions competing in the 54-hole event.
Also read: Top-three finishes by Diksha and Avani at Dutch Ladies Open
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