Hero Women’s Indian Open enters 10th year on LET roster

By Rahul Banerji

Four bright, confident young women stood before the media at the launch of the $500,000 Hero Women’s Indian Open 2019 in the Capital on Thursday, sharing experiences and stories ahead of the country’s biggest women’s professional golf event.

Domestic tour Order of Merit leader Gaurika Bishnoi, Tvesa Malik, Neha Tripathi and Amandeep Drall were all at hand to help usher in the 13^th edition of the tournament which also enters its 10th year on the Ladies European Tour.

The DLF Golf and Country Club will once again host the Hero Women’s Indian Open from October 3 to 6, two weeks earlier than usual. Like last year, it will be telecast live to over 120 countries.

Domestic winners’ exempt

In another departure from the past, the winners this year on the domestic tour will get exemptions into the Open, including Hyderabad’s 15-year-old amateur Sneha Singh, who took a title on home ground two weeks ago in the 11^th leg of the tour.

Seven other winners so far from the professional tour are also exempt among whom is 18-year-old rookie Gauri Karhade, who topped the field at last week’s 12^th leg, also in Hyderabad.

Welshwoman Becky Morgan – a story all by herself after 19 winless years – will be back to defend her title as will 2017 winner Camille Chevalier of France and a host of names from the LET.

They include former Order of Merit winners Beth Allen and Becky Brewerton, besides Tour titleists Meghan MacLaren, Marianne Skarpnord, Kanyalak Preedasuttijit, Astrid Vayson de Pradenne, Florentyna Parker and Linda Wessberg.

Stepping stone

The Hero Women’s Indian Open has always seen a strong show from home golfers and was a launch pad for 2016 champion Aditi Ashok, now a regular on the LPGA.

Following her onto the international stage and reaping some success was Diksha Dagar, who became the second Indian to win on the Ladies European Tour with victory at the 2019 South African Women’s Open in March.

There are also others such as Vani Kapoor, a Top-10 finisher in the recent past while Gaurika and Tvesa were tied 13^th at last year’s Open.

Yuvraj Sandhu emerges top contender

Meanwhile, in Karnal, Haryana, Chandigarh’s Yuvraj Singh Sandhu produced a 2-under-60 to take a two-shot lead in the Tata Steel PGTI Feeder Tour event at Madhuban Meadows on Thursday.

The 22-year-old rookie goes into the final round on a 7-under-117 aggregate. Sandhu’s nearest challenger is day one leader Dhruv Sheoran (56-63) who was on 5-under-119.

Two par-4s at the Madhuban Meadows Golf Course have been scratched for the tournament, and all three rounds will feature 16 holes with par for the course at 62.

The cut fell at 5-over-129 with 36 professionals and one amateur making the third and final round.

Maiden title in sight

Sandhu, who has three top-20s in his rookie season on the PGTI’s main tour this year will hope for a maiden title on Friday. Overnight second one shot off the lead, Sandhu topped the field courtesy an eagle and a birdie against a solitary bogey.

Yuvraj, tied fourth at the last Feeder Tour event in Faridabad, said, “My driving, approach shots and chipping were all pretty sharp today but my putts just didn’t find the hole.

“I’ve hit it close on both days and today most of my putts were within 15 feet. But I didn’t convert any of those chances.

“This is a feel-based course. So I feel I have the momentum going into the last round. I’ll look to stick to my pre-shot routine and improve on my putting.”

Round one leader Sheoran slipped with a 1-over-63 that featured four birdies, two bogeys and a triple.

Lucknow’s Rishi Kumar returned a second straight 2-under-60 to be placed third on 4-under-120 while Feeder Tour Order of Merit leader Anil Bajrang Mane (60) of Mumbai was tied eighth at 1-under-123.

Also read: Tour rookie Gauri Karhade wins maiden Hero WPGT title