Diksha Dagar finishes strongly at Thailand Chamionship

By Rahul Banerji

South Africa Women’s Open winner Diksha Dagar brought in a bogey-free final round of 3-under par 69 and a four-day total of 3-under 285 to share 13^th place in the Ladies European Thailand Championship at the Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club in Pattaya on Sunday.

Diksha’s final day card matched that of Tvesa Malik on the third day, the Delhi girl finishing tied 48^th though the best card from the Indian contingent in Pattaya came from Astha Madan, who had a 4-under 68 on day two.

Astha was T61 in the LET event won by 16-year-old Thai amateur Atthaya Thithikul who finished on 22-under 266 with rounds of 69, 67, 63 and 67. Germany’s Esther Henseleit was the best-placed professional five shots behind the Thai prodigy.

It was Atthaya’s second win at the championship in the last three years and her 63 in the third round set a course record.

‘Unreal feeling’

“It feels unreal,” she was quoted as saying on the LET website, despite a three-hour delay due to storms in the middle of the round. “I’m really pleased with all the things I’ve done in this tournament.

“The last time I had a bogey was in round two. I just put the ball where I wanted it. Since I won two years ago I’ve kept working hard and I’ve grown in confidence.” With the result, Atthaya has earned entry to the upcoming Evian Championship in France and the Women’s British Open.

Diksha played steady golf with level par 72 for the first three days before her sub-par final round that had three birdies in all, one on the front nine and two on the way back. Tvesa (75, 73, 69, 75) and Astha (77, 68, 76, 75) for their part, had more of a roller-coaster ride.

Tvesa’s final round included two birdies against five bogeys while Astha had three bgeys and a double against two birdies.

Disappointment in Germany

Meanwhile, in Munich, Shiv Shankar Prasad Chawrasia was the best-finishing Indian at tied 53^rd in the BMW International Open in Munich on Sunday.

Two-time Hero Indian Open winner Chawrasia had a final aggregate of 1-under 287 (73, 68, 73, 73) and dropped seven places after his round on Sunday.

Gaganjeet Bhullar was unable to replicate his heroics of the second day that included a prize-winning hole-in-one and was in a share of 62^nd place, down nine spots from his overnight placing.

The Kapurthala golfer had cards of 69, 71, 75 and 74 but will remember his Munich trip for the M8 sports coupe his 17^th hole ace on the second day brought in.

Also read: Diksha Dagar scripts a bit of history with SA Women’s Open win