By Rahul Banerji
Aadil Bedi, Ankur Chadha and Hitaashee Bakshi were crowned winners of the inaugural Ballantine’s Mixed Pro Challenge at the DLF Golf and Country Club on Wednesday.
Aadil, Ankur and Hitaashee (131-138), leaders by two shots after round one, drove home the advantage with a 6-under 138 in the second and final round.
That took the trio to a gross score of 19-under 269 and helped them lift the trophy and take home the winning cheque worth Rs. 7 lakh at the first-ever mixed tournament played in India.
Hitaashee, on her home course, was the best performer for her team for the second day in succession as she followed up her 66 in round one with a 69 on Wednesday.
Yuvraj Singh Sandhu, Sunit Chowrasia and Gaurika Bishnoi (133-138) finished runners-up with a gross score of 17-under 271 after firing an 8-under 138 in round two.
In all, 18 teams participated in the strokeplay event offering a prize purse Rs. 30 lakh. The two best scores out of three on each completed hole were counted towards the team total.
Hitaashee mixed six birdies with a bogey and a double on the final day.
Early gains
Bakshi, who has won three events on the WGAI since turning professional last December sank a 12-footer on the third and a tap-in on the fifth for her early birdies.
Hitaashee then suffered a setback with a double-bogey on the sixth where she four-putted.
However, Bakshi, currently ranked second on the WGAI Order of Merit, bounced back with four birdies in exchange for one more dropped shot between holes eight and 18.
Hitaashee said, “I produced a solid round today which was a result of our good teamwork. We had some up and down holes today but managed to finish well.
“Aadil, Ankur and I had very good communication among ourselves and anytime we had a problem on the course we discussed it. Even our caddies helped out.
“As Ankur and Aadil were playing a professional event here for the first time, I took it upon myself to help them out with the local knowledge and conditions as this is my home course.”
It was Aadil Bedi who gave the early breakthroughs to the winning team as he scored a chip-in birdie on the first hole followed by two more on the third and fourth.
Aadil, a winner on the PGTI, then conceded five bogeys to end up with a 74 in round two.
Aadil said, “At the start I didn’t know what to expect this week as I had never played a team format before and I was also playing my first pro event at DLF.
Enjoyable experience
“But I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. After we were five-under through the first five holes today, we focused on keeping the momentum going.”
Ankur Chadha, who posted a score of 69 on day one, signed for a 78 on day two.
Besides Hitaashee’s 66, Ankur’s 69 in round one was also crucial to his team’s solid start on Tuesday.
Chadha said, “This was the first time I was playing a competitive event at the new DLF course as I hadn’t seen the back nine before.
“It was nice to shoot a three-under on day one which gave us a cushion coming into the final day. The key to our success was that the three of us combined really well through both the days.”
Chowrasia (74), Gaurika (76) and Sandhu (81) held on to their overnight second position on Wednesday.
Chowrasia’s eagle on the closing par-5 18th was instrumental in helping his team finish second.
Honey Baisoya, also playing at his home course, shot the day’s best individual score of 68 that played a vital role in his team finishing tied third on 16-under 272.
Honey’s team-mates were Mani Ram and Jahanvi Bakshi who is Hitaashee’s elder sister.
The other team that finished tied third comprised Khalin Joshi, Kartik Sharma and Oviya Reddi.
Also read: Hitaashee-Chadha-Bedi lead after day one of Ballantine’s Challenge
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