By Rahul Banerji
Four Indian women professional golfers matched wits and abilities with a select few of the best at the Simone Asian Pacific Cup in Jakarta this week.
Playing the $750,000 event limited to 44 entrants at the Pondok Indah course, the four were between 18th and 26th in the individual competition besides finishing 11th and 14th in the 22-strong team event.
But there were opportunities to do still better. And golfers ready to do that.
Princess Mary Superal of the Philippines announced herself to the world with a comprehensive three-shot win over a field that included winners at four major events.
The unheralded Princess (66-71-67, 12-under 204) finished ahead of two-time major winner So Yeon Ryu of Korea (65-75-67) who was second and New Zealand’s Lydia Ko (66-72-70), third.
Amandeep Drall was the best-placed of the four taking 18th place on 5-over 221 (72-77-72). Vani Kapoor was 20th (78-70-74, 222), Gaurika Bishnoi 22nd (77-74-72) and Diksha Dagar 26th with cards of 74, 75 and 75.
Interestingly, Gaurika’s 7-over 223 aggregate saw her finish alongside Japan’s 2019 Women’s British Open champion Hinako Shibuno.
Also, Vani Kapoor was one of 20 in the field to bring in a sub-par round, a 2-under 70 on day two in the Indonesian capital.
Princess rules
But the spotlight was reserved for the Filipino Princess, who was crowned queen at the 54-hole event.
The 25-year-old started the final day a shot ahead of 17-time LPGA winner Ko and made it a one-horse race to the finish with a bogey-free 67 that was marked by five birdies.
After the second day, Princess told the event website that the key to her solid display was ‘minding her own business.
“I was just minding my own business and just focusing on my own game, so that really helped me.”
South Korea also topped the team event with their second side finishing on 11-under, four ahead of the Philippines. Team New Zealand were third.
Bhullar in top-10
At Jeju Island, meanwhile, Gaganjeet Bhullar was in a share of tenth place after the third day of the International Series Korea, five shits behind leader Taehoon Ok of Korea.
Bhullar, winner of the Indonesia Open earlier this month, shared 10th place on 7-under 206 (72-65-69) with five others as Koreans dominated the leaderboard with a day to go.
Veer Ahlawat, in the top five overnight had a poor run on Saturday with a 3-over 74 that saw him slip all the way down to a share of 42nd place on 3-under 210.
Shiv Shankar Prasad Chawrasia was a shot behind in tied 49th.
asiantour.com adds
O’s bid for a maiden professional title gathered momentum with a third-round 2-under-par 69 in the $1.5 million International Series Korea.
At 12 under for the Asian Tour event, he leads countrymen Wooyoung Cho, one of the country’s top amateurs, Yoseop Seo and Bio Kim by one shot.
Cho carded a stunning 61, Seo 67 and Kim 70 to set up an enthralling final day at Lotte Skyhill Country Club on Jeju Island.
Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai and Pavit Tangkamolprasert are a stroke further back, after rounds of 63 and 67 respectively.
Also read: Indian teams struggle on day two of Simone Asia Pacific Cup
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