Former champ Hedwall in for HWIO; A Team win at DGCL

By Rahul Banerji

Hero Indian Women’s Open winner in 2011, Caroline Hedwall has confirmed participation in this year’s edition of the tournament that tees off next week.

The 33-year-old Swedish star, who blazed her way through at the HWIO in 2011 in her rookie year, has happy memories of the DLF Golf & Country Club. 

Hedwall won hearts in taking the title with her mother, Yvonne on the bag at the venue’s Arnold Palmer course. A year later she finished as the runner-up.

This will be Hedwall’s fifth start at the Hero Women’s Indian Open that have fetched a win and two runner-up finishes.

Sensational start

Four of Hedwall’s six Ladies European Tour titles came in her sensational rookie year, and her last one came at the 2018 Lacoste Ladies Open de France.

She also has three wins in Australia, one of them in 2011.

A regular on the Solheim Cup team in her early years, she missed out in 2021 but is looking to get back in 2023 in Spain.

Overall, Hedwall has an enviable record at the HWIO.

After the win in 2011, she lost to Phatlum Pornanong of Thailand in 2012.

In 2016, Hedwall returned to witness another rookie do what did five years earlier in the form of India’s Aditi Ashok. After skipping 2017, Hedwall was again in contention in 2018 and shared second place.

After her sensational breakthrough season, Hedwall played on the LPGA circuit. From 2012 to almost 2019-20, she was often in the US and divided her time between the two Tours across the Atlantic.

This season Hedwall has had four Top 10s, three of those in her last four starts – T8 at the Skafto Open, T8 at the Aaland 100 Ladies Open and T5 at the Lacoste Ladies Open de France.

Lloyd DGCL update

The A Team, captained by leading professional Amandeep Johl, won three of their seven games and drew three against Tee Birds to pick up nine points and take heir tournament tally to 29 points.

After day seven of Lloyd Delhi Golf Club League powered by Vredestein Tyres, the A Team are atop their league group.

Delhi Tigers won six of their seven games against Eagles & Birdies to earn 13 points for a total of 41.5 to lead their group.

They now look certain to be the first into team the knock-out stages while Eagles & Birdies managed three points on the day.

Baale Golf took four wins out of their seven games against MMG Coca-Cola to total 10 points for the day.

They top the group table with 32 points. MMG Coca-Cola, who tallied 6.5 points on the day, also have 32 points in that group have completed their league engagements of four matches against three by Baale Golf.

Bajaj Foundation won three of their seven games and drew two to tally eight points against TEEM EDC. With 16 points, Bajaj Foundation are third in the group but they have played only two games. 

Athletic Drive with 31 points in three matches and Christie’s Golf’ with 23 points from two matches are first and second in their group.

League standings (top two)

 Group A: Delhi Tigers 41.5 pts from 4 matches; BMW Deutsche Motoren 30 pts from 3.

Group B: A Team 29 pts from 3 matches; Robo 4Me 18 pts from 3.

Group C: Baale Golf 32 pts from 3 matches; Coca Cola 32 pts from 4.

Group D: Athletic Drive 31 pts from 3 matches; Christie’s Golf 23 pts from 2.

Also read: Tvesa Malik seeks home comfort at HWIO; GIA set for tee-off