By Rahul Banerji
US-based Indian amateur Anika Varma finished third at last week’s inaugural edition of the Colorado National Women’s Amateur at Colorado National Golf Club.
The 16-year-old, now based in Roseville, California, followed a first day 2-over 74 at the event on the Cactus Tour with a 2-under 70 for a level par total of 144.
Hailey Schalk (141) of Erie, where the tournament was played, emerged the first-ever winner by one shot over fellow Colorado golfer Kelsey Webster.
Anika, who trains under Roseville-based coach Noah Montgomery, was two shots behind the runner-up having made up good ground on the second and final day at the Colorado National GC.
Good progress
The teenager has made steady progress since shifting to America, Among her achievements are becoming the first Indian to play the US Women’s Amateur last month.
The 16-year-old was pleased with her efforts in Colorado.
“Challenging course, loved playing it!!! Thank you @THECACTUSTOUR for hosting my first event in Colorado,” Anika tweeted earlier in the week.
Anika’s coach Montgomery also steers the fortunes of recent two-time European Tour winner John Catlin and Gaganjeet Bhullar, presently also playing on the Continent.
Late last month, Anika secured a berth along with playing partner Meghan Royal at the 6th US Women’s Four-Ball Championship when they topped the qualifier from Arizona.
“We played according to each other, which helped us a lot just because we knew when a person was confident and wasn’t,” Anika said then on the Arizona Golf Association’s website.
“We complimented each other a lot, we kind of just had one of us make par and the other just go for it and play aggressive and see if we could make birdie,” added her partner Royal.
As a top-225 amateur in the world and no. 1 ranked amateur in India, Anika was the first Indian golfer to play at the US Women’s Amateur Championship this August.
Anika also played the girls championship at the SentryWorld course in Wisconsin last July besides racking up impressive performances on the Cactus Tour through the Covid-enforced lean season.
Also read: Anika continues impressive form with US team event slot
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