Jasmine wins maiden title at Golden Greens leg of Hero WPGT

Jasmine Shekar had something in hand on the way to her maiden professional win at the Golden Greens course on Friday. Image courtesy WGAI.

By Rahul Banerji 

Jasmine Shekar overcame nervous moments towards the end to win her maiden professional title in the 13^th Leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour at the Golden Greens Golf Club near Gurgaon on Friday.

The 19-year-old from Bangalore who has come close in the past, including two solo runner-up finishes, finally beat the quality field including merit leader Hitaashee Bakshi by two shots, the WGAI said.

Jasmine was four shots clear with two holes to go but bogeyed both but with none of her closest rivals coming up with anything better than pars on the last three holes, she had something in hand at the finish line.

The young golfer turned pro last year and finished sixth on the Hero Order of Merit. Besides two solo seconds, Jasmine also tied for second twice last season. The result will do her confidence a lot of good ahead of next month’s Hero Women’s Indian Open.

Hitaashee finished second to extend her lead in the rankings with Sneha Singh second. Amandeep Drall and Khushi Khanijau are third and fourth and Jasmine moved up one place to fifth.

Quick start

Jasmine. who shared the 36-hole lead with Ridhima, began well with birdies on the third and the sixth holes.

At that stage Hitaashee had two birdies and two bogeys, while Ridhima faltered with two birdies and four bogeys in the first six holes.

At the turn, Jasmine had extended her lead, despite a double bogey on the par-4 seventh, and birdie on the ninth to play the front half in 1 under.

On the back nine Jasmine early to widen the gap before the two late dropped shots.

Hitaashee after an even par 36 on the front nine had one birdie and one bogey on the back nine for a card of 72 and was two adrift of the winner. It was her fourth runner-up finish of the season.

Ridhima had five bogeys against two birdies for a card of 75 and was third on 1 over 217 and three behind Jasmine.

Gaurika Bishnoi (73) was tied for fourth with Sneha Singh (75), and Amandeep Drall (76) slipped to tied sixth alongside Snigdha Goswami, who had the day’s best card of 69.

Amateur Anvvi Dahhiya (76) was eighth and Gauri Karhade (73) ninth. Vidhatri Urs (75) and Kriti Chowhan (75) tied for 10^th.

Also read: Ridhima climbs into joint lead with Jasmine at Golden Greens