Top-five finish for Diksha Dagar at Czech Ladies Open

By Rahul Banerji

Diksha Dagar put aside months of pain and disappointment with a shared fourth place finish at the Tipsport Czech Ladies Open in Beroun on Sunday.

A career best-equalling round of 6-under 66 at Beroun Golf Club gave Diksha a top-five finish for the first time since her debut season on the Ladies European Tour.

Diksha was alongside England’s Cloe Frankish on 12-under 204, three shots behind winner Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand (15-under par 201).

Overnight leader Nuria Iturrioz of Spain was second on 14-under 202 and Gerany’s Leonie Harm third on 203.

The 20-year-old Diksha was making just the third start of her 2021 season having had to cope with a lingering back issue that affected her for much of 2020.

Equal best round

Diksha had cards of 70, 68 and 66, which equalled her previous best single round performance. It also gave the left-hander a second top-10 placing at an LET event.

Her previous two starts of 2021 were at the Ladies Italian Open (T43) and Scandinavian Mixed Open (missed cut).

Sunday’s 66 was Diksha’s second bogey-free card in as many days at the Czech Ladies Open. She had five birdies on the front nine on the final day, and added a sixth soon after making the turn.

Eight straight pars saw her reach the clubhouse in shared second place behind Iturrioz and Harm, but Atthaya was just picking up pace.

The 18 year-old from Ratchaburi, Thailand, fired a blistering 7-under 65 with five birdies on the way home to clear the leaders and seal a maiden LET title in only her third Tour start.

Earlier, Tvesa Malik (71-74) just missed the cut at Beroun on 1-over 145. Ashta Madan was well down the order.

Also read: Tvesa into top-5 as Diksha Dagar makes a return at Ladies Italian Open