File photo of Hero Womens Pro Golf Tour merit leader Hitaashee Bakshi who tees off at Bangalore on Tuesday after flying back from a successful run in Singapore last week. Image courtesy WGAI.
By Rahul Banerji
Mysore leg winner Gaurika Bishnoi, who scripted a dramatic finish last week, will take on Order of Merit leader Hitaashee Bakshi in the eighth leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour in Bangalore from Tuesday.
Hitaashee has flown in straight from a superb third-place finish at the Singapore Ladies Masters, an international career best at the $100,000 event sanctioned by the China LPGA.
Hitaashee totalled 4 under par 212 for 54 holes at Laguna National Golf Resort Club with a closing 71.
Hitaashee, who began the final day in tied fifth place, displayed remarkable patience to finish third behind China’s 17-year-old Pang Runzhi (209) and her compatriot Cai Danlin (210).
It was the maiden pro win for Pang, who started a stroke behind Cai braving the heat, humidity, and fatigue after surviving a tense stretch where she dropped two shots in her last five holes.
However, her level par 72 was just enough to seal victory in a week that had numerous weather interruptions.
Amateur Mahreen Bhatia who played all three days in her maiden overseas start shot a third straight 76 despite carrying the bag herself for a brief period after her caddie fell sick after the second hole.
Her mother, Roohi took over as caddie for the last 14 holes.
Productive run
The Singapore event capped a good eight-week stretch for Hitaashee that fetched four top 20 finishes – three on the Thailand LPGA and one in the Philippines.
“I have learnt so much in the last two months and this week was tough with all the stoppages and Laguna is a difficult course. I am proud of the way I handled myself,” said Hitaashee.
“I am grateful to event organiser Lyn Yeo for giving me an invitation. It was a great experience, and the course was world class.
“My biggest challenge was the second day when I played 28 holes despite frequent stoppages. I came to the course at 5.30 am and left at past 7.30 pm, but thankfully I finished the second round on Saturday itself.”
The Bangalore field is a strong one with Amandeep Drall, Sneha Singh, Khushi Khanijau and Vidhatri Urs, who on her pro debut last week, showed that she is ready for the bigger stars.
Jasmine Shekar, who was runner-up last week, will be hoping to get a breakthrough win after numerous close calls. Vidhatri, who led after the first round, finally ended in a tie for third.
Also in the field is Seher Atwal, who was disqualified despite making the cut in Singapore.
Promising amateurs Saanvi Somu and Keerthana Rajeev are also in the fray.
A total of 41 players including six amateurs will be competing in the eighth leg at the Bangalore Golf Club this week.
Round 1 tee times
7:30 am; Riya Yadav, Disha Kavery
7:40 am: Sachika Singh, Yaalisai Verma, Chitrangada Singh
7:50 am: Ravjot K. Dosanjh, Krishaa Nichani (A), Astha Madan
8 am: Rhea Jha, Anuradha Chaudhuri (A), Anisha Agarwalla
8:10 am: Jasmine Shekar, Vidhatri Urs; Anvitha Narender
8:25 am: Gourabi Bhowmick, Keerthana Rajeev (A), Ananya Garg
8:35 am: Rhea Purvi S., Prakruthi N. Sastry (A), Anaggha Venkatesh
8:45 am: Jahaanvie Walia, Vrinda Yadav, Amandeep Drall
8:55 am: Ishvari Prasanna, Sneha Singh, Agrima Manral
9:05 am: Jyotsana Singh, Snigdha Goswami, Karishma Govind
9:20 am: Saanvi Somu (A), Marshneil Prasad, Khushi Khanijau
9:30 am: Millie Saroha, Shagun Narain, Shweta Mansingh
9:40 am: Geetika Ahuja, Lavanya Jadon (A), Hitaashee Bakshi
9:50 am: Seher Atwal, Gauri Karhade, Gaurika Bishnoi
Also read: Gaurika storms to victory at JWGC leg of Hero WPG Tour
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