By Rahul Banerji
Unlike many of her compatriots and seniors who are kicking their heels under lock-down, California-based teenager Anika Varma has been in the thick of golfing action in America.
The corona-virus pandemic has laid low many big events on golf tours around the globe, but tucked away in the deep West of the United States, the Cactus Tour continues to provide a platform for a new generation of up and coming women golfers.
On Friday, Anika closed with a final round of 1-over 73 to take a share of fifth place alongside fellow amateur Payton Fehringer on 2-under 214 at the par-72 Apache Creek course in Apache Junction, Arizona.
The two were seven shots behind winner Sarah Burnham, who had a 9-under aggregate of 207 (72-67-68).
Incidentally, Anika turned 16 last Sunday.
Anika had climbed into the top three with a second round of 6-under 66. Her final round 73 included one birdie against two bogies and saw her back in blue numbers after an opening round of 5-over 77.
Steady progress
The teenager, coached early on by Delhi’s Romit Bose and now working with the Sacremento, California-based Noah Montgomery, has been making steady progress on the Cactus Tour.
Presently based in Roseville, California, Anika had a tied sixth finish the previous week at the Sun City Country Club in Sun City, Arizona.
In late March, she was tied second again alongside Fehringer on 2-over 224 at the Sundance Golf Club in Buckeye, Arizona.
The Cactus Tour describes itself as a platform for professional women golfers outside of the LPGA and the Symetra Tours. in the western United States.
Anika is next entered for the April 13 to 15 event at Union City Country Club in Sun City.
Track classics
Meanwhile, for petrol-heads missing the action of the Covid-stalled 2020 Formula One season, Star Sports has come up with a selection of classic races to occupy the vacant weekend slots.
A statement from the channel said the races include duels between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost, the rain-hampered races that saw the dominance of Michael Schumacher, the emergence of Fernando Alonso, amongst others.
Highlights include the Monaco Grands Prix of 1984 and 1992 featuring Senna, Prost and Nigel Mansell, and the 1996 Spanish GP that gave Schumacher his first win for Ferrari.
Also on the list are the 1997 European GP that saw Jacques Villeneuve pip Schumacher to the world championship, and the first F1 wins ofAlonso and Kimi Raikkonen.
The featured races will be on air on Star Sports Select 2 every Friday (7 to 8 pm), Saturday (7 to 8 pm) and Sunday (7 to 9 pm).
Also read: Anika Varma falls in Round of 32 at US Girls Championship
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