Hyderabad amateur beats quality field for Hero Women’s Pro Tour title

By Rahul Banerji

Teenaged Hyderabad amateur Sneha Singh announced her arrival at the senior level by outlasting an experienced field on the final day of the 11^th leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour at the Hyderabad Golf Club on Friday.

Sneha, 15, racked up five birdies on her outward nine against two double bogeys to make the turn on 1-under 34. She thereafter steadied herself on the way back, dropping just one shot against eight pars to get the better of overnight leader Vani Kapoor by one shot, aggregating 222 (73, 78, 71) to Vani’s 223 (74, 72, 77).

The Hyderabad teenager is coached by her father, Sanjay Singh.

Rusty golf

Even as Sneha returned a level par 71 for the day, Vani’s game showed traces of rust from her injury-induced break and she could do no better than a 6-over 77 on the day.

Five ahead of Sneha at the start, Vani finished one behind in second place.

Gaurika Bishnoi (225) was third, while Ananya Datar (227) was fourth. Another talented amateur, Shreya Pal (228), came in fifth. 

Sneha became the first amateur to win in 2019 emulating Ridhima Dilawari and Pranavi Urs, who won as amateurs in 2018.

Diksha Dagar also held amateur status when she won the closing event of the 2017 season. Other amateurs to win on the Hero WPG Tour include Gurbani Singh, Aditi Ashok and Tvesa Malik in 2015 and Raksha Phadke and Mehar Atwal in 2014.

Clubhouse lead

Sneha began Friday five behind Vani, playing in the group ahead of the leading trio of Vani, Gaurika and Ananya. 

Playing on what is familiar territory, Sneha set the clubhouse target of 222 and then had to wait for the final group to come in. Enroute, there was a point she had slipped six shots behind Vani before steadying the round.

For her part, Vani had three bogeys against one birdie on the front nine, followed by two birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey on her way back.

Vani had a birdie on the front nine and turned in 2-over 37, by which time her lead had dropped to just two shots. A further four bogeys and a double meant her advantage had not just gone, but she had even fallen behind.

Final chance

A final hole birdie could have given Vani a playoff, but she could only manage to par it.

Gaurika, who opened two ahead of Sneha, dropped four shots on the front nine and fell behind. 

Gauri Karhade, whose 71 was the day’s best card along with Sneha’s, was T6 with Neha Tripathi on 230s and Khushi Khanijau was eighth. Siddhi Kapoor and Gurjot Badwal tied for 10^th, while Ridhima Dilawari and Afshan Fatima were T11.

Gaurika Bishnoi stays on top of the Hero Order of Merit, while Neha, Amandeep Drall, Ridhima and Gursimar are second to fifth in that order.

The 12^th leg of the Hero WPG Tour will be played at Boulder Hills Golf and Country Club in Hyderabad from 14 to 16 August.

Also read: Vani Kapoor back as Hero WPG Tour resumes in Hyderabad