By Rahul Banerji
Nishtha Madan will make her debut on the biggest stage women’s professional golf has to offer, the Gainbridge LPGA in Boca Raton, Florida, on Thursday.
The 23-year-old from Delhi has received a sponsor’s exemption into the 120-strong field that will also see India’s sole LPGA card holder Aditi Ashok open her 2022 season.
The $2 million event, which has Olympic winner Nelly Korda as the defending champion, will be played at the par-72 Boca Rio Golf Club.
Also in the field is Sunday’s season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions topper Danielle Kang, along with Hall of Famers Karrie Webb of Australia and England’s Laura Davies.
“Nishtha had an outstanding rookie season as a professional on the Cactus Tour,” Dan Towriss, chief executive and president of Group 1001, the parent organisation of Gainbridge, was quoted as saying.
“We’re honoured that she will be making her LPGA Tour debut at the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio.”
Nishtha trains with California-based Noah Montgomery, who coaches European Tour regular Gaganjeet Bhullar.
In August last year, Nishtha reached round two of the LPGA-Symetra Tour Qualifying School tournament in California’s Rancho Mirage.
Nishtha finished the four-round first stage qualifier tied 27th on the par-72 course with American amateur Gina Tan leading the list of 95 players going through to the second stage.
Three other Indians in the field – Sharmila Nicollet, Saaniya Sharma and Nikita Arjun – did not make the grade.
Solid results
Nishtha, who moved to the US a couple of years ago has achieved solid results with Montgomery who also mentors top amateur Anika Varma.
Having completed her university studies from Sacramento last year, Nishtha had a successful run on the subsidiary Cactus Tour in north-western US with five titles.
That run took her to second on the Cactus Tour’s Order of Merit and she will play the Symetra Tour for the 2022 season.
The Cactus Tour also saw the likes of Sophia Popov, Mina Harigae and Carlotta Ciganda hone their game during the LPGA Tour’s Covid break.
Popov and Ciganda went on to play on the winning Europe team in the Solheim Cup team under Catriona Mathews at the Inverness Club in Toledo from August 31 to September 6.
Also read: Nishtha Madan through to LPGA Qualifying School second stage
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