By Rahul Banerji
Braving the smoggy conditions, members of the Noida Golf Course have been turning out in good numbers for the ongoing NGC Yatharth Diwali Cup.
With the course in good share and rolling long thanks to the dry weather, participants have so far enjoyed the conditions, the worsening air quality notwithstanding.
Keeping in mind Covid-enforced requirements, the NGC has kept fields limited per round at the event which is being played over eight sessions from Thursday through Sunday,
Players have therefore followed masking and social spacing requirements, all making for smooth pace of play.
Day one was reserved for super seniors and saw 110 golfers take to the course, and a packed schedule has followed since then.
Besides completing the NGC President’s Cup held over from March, this is the first full event at the course and members have responded in kind, following Covid protocols and making the most of the limited numbers.
And at the end of the day, there is a little reminder from Yatharth Hospitals of the ongoing health crisis to take away as well.
Partnered with the long-hitting Rohit Khurana, our group did its best to stay afloat with Neeraj Jain (Doc to his friends) and Rajive Mohindru turning in solid performances on the day.
Aditi turns up the heat
Aditi Ashok raced up the leader-board with a fiery round on Friday, the third and final day of the Omega Dubai Moonlight Classic to just miss out on a top five finish.
Going into the final day on level-par 144 after opening rounds of 75 and 69, the Bangalore girl was in terrific form, returning her best ever card on a main event of the Ladies European Tour (LET).
Friday’s charge carried the free-swinging Aditi to a share of sixth place, two shots behind winner Minjee Lee of Australia.
“Love playing in Dubai and happy to have a good finish here again,” Aditi tweeted later.
Lee needed a playoff to win her first career title from Frenchwoman Celine Boutier.
Tvesa Malik next best Indian on 3-over 219 (75-75-69) for a share of 27th place, while Diksha Dagar with 227 was 48th and late entrant Ashta Madan was 52nd with a 232 aggregate.
In good company
According to the LET website, LPGA regular Lee came into the week as the highest-ranked player following in the footsteps of previous champions including Annika Sorenstam, Lexi Thompson and Shanshan Feng.
Her efforts, including edging out Boutier on the first hole of the playoff with a birdie finish, earned Lee 36,266 euros and the iconic ‘coffee pot inspired’ trophy.
The event was limited to a 56-strong field and Lee was the highest ranked player in the field.
“I couldn’t really see the break too well on the last hole, but I thought it would be about two cups outside the right and luckily I hit it hard enough and it dropped,” the 24-year-old said later.
“It feels pretty special to be here playing at night-time and the course has been amazing It’s been a really fun week.”
Also read: Simarjeet, Ashok Kumar are President’s Cup overall winners
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