By Rahul Banerji
Sneha Singh needed a storming back nine and three tie-break holes to land her maiden victory as a professional in Kolkata on Friday.
Hyderabad-based Sneha whose father and coach Sanjay Singh grew up at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club outlasted another young star Jasmine Shekar of Bangalore at the RCGC to win the third leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour.
Sneha (69), trailing Jasmine by two shots at the start, fell five behind by the turn, the WGAI said.
After the turn though, the aggressive golfer upped the heat and found four birdies on the home stretch to set a clubhouse target of level par 216.
When Jasmine came to the 17th tee, she was two under for the day, still one ahead of Sneha with two holes to go.
She needed two pars on the last two holes for a maiden win and to deny her rival.
But the young rookie, under pressure, dropped a shot and parred the final hole for a one-under 71, tying her on aggregate with the Hyderabad teenager and necessitating a playoff.
The two went up and down 18 three times before Sneha birdied after they had tied on the first two tiebreak holes.
Amateur Saanvi Somu (72) was third, while rookie pro, Kriti Chowhan (76), who finished runner-up as an amateur, finished fourth alongside Seher Atwal (73) at 6-over 222.
Sneha’s 69 was the best score of the week and helped end her wait for a breakthrough win as a professional.
Long wait
After winning the eighth leg of the 2021 season as an amateur, she won the second leg of the 2022 Hero WPG Tour in Vishakhapatnam. But a professional title has been elusive.
Sneha, who began the week with a 77, made amends with a second-round 70, which was also the best round of the day.
On the final day, Sneha bogeyed early but took back the shot within two holes.
When she made the turn, the Hyderabad golfer trailed Jasmine by five shots with only the back nine left at the historic Royal Calcutta Golf Club.
Sneha then produced four birdies in six holes and parred the rest.
Jasmine, a co-leader with favourite Amandeep Drall after the second round, seemed to be cruising to a win as she made two birdies against no bogeys on the front nine.
Amandeep had fallen back with 5-over 41 for the front nine. Sneha was five behind and Amandeep was seven behind.
Turning the tide
Even though Jasmine dropped just one shot, Sneha’s birdie blitz turned the tide and her own fortunes.
Amandeep (78) with four bogeys and a double bogey and no birdies ended sixth, while Khushi Khanijau (79) was seventh and amateur Janneya Dasanniee (77) eighth.
Nayanika Sanga (74) and Shweta Mansingh, who was second after the first round, shot 78s in the final round for tied 10th.
Sneha’s win also helped her pip Seher Atwal to the top of the Hero Order of Merit, while Jasmine Shekar moved up to third.
The first three legs have produced different winners with Seher Atwal taking the first and Pranavi Urs winning the second.
Sneha will now seek a back-to-back win next week in the fourth leg at the Tollygunge Club.
Also read: Bangalore rookie Jasmine shares lead in RCGC leg of Hero WPGT
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