Flying finish lands Jasmine Clover Greens Hero WPGT leg title

Bangalore golfer Jashime Shekar scorched the back nine of the Clover Greens course at Hosur to hunt down overnight leader Neha TRipathi and win by three strokes on Friday. Image courtesy WGAI.

By Rahul Banerji

Jasmine Shekar unleashed an unstoppable finishing kick to win the ninth leg of the Hero WPGT at Hosur’s Clover Greens course on Friday.

Jasmine’s closing 4 under par 68 included a flawless back nine to track down overnight leader Neha Tripathi who was three strokes ahead at the start of the day, the WGAI said.

Neha looked on course for her first title in two years till a turbulent stretch between holes 12 and 16 that cost her five shots and resulted in a three-stroke loss to playing partner Jasmine.

The final nine made all the difference as Jasmine went 3 under 31 while Neha was 3-over 37. That six-hole swing saw Neha’s starting advantage turn into a three-shot deficit at the end.

Turning point

The crucial hole for Bangalore’s Jasmine was the par-4 12th which she birdied while Neha dropped a shot. The two-shot swing brought the leader’s cushion down to one.

Neha then bogeyed the next three holes in a row even as Jasmine, 20, confidently birdied the 18th to emerge the fifth winner of the season with a 9 under par total of 207. Neha was 6-under 210.

Ridhima Dilawari shot the day’s best card of 5 under 67 to take third place at 4 under 212.

Seher Atwal (69) was fourth on 3 under 213 while Vani Kapoor (70), Amandeep Drall (69) and Kriti Chowhan (72) tied for fifth place on 2 under 214.

Sneha Singh produced a third straight round of even par 72 and took eight placeh, while Lavanya Jadon (70) was ninth. 

Jahaanvie Walia (70), who had one of the two eagles on the final day, tied for 10th with top amateur Saanvi Somu (76).

Vani Kapoor continues to lead the Hero Order of Merit with Amandeep Drall in second place and Sneha Singh third. Jasmine Shekar moved to fourth, Neha Tripathi is fifth and Ridhima Dilawari sixth.

Also read: Stunning 65 fires Neha Tripathi into the lead at Clover Greens