By Rahul Banerji
Lakhmehar Pardesi’s birthday this year came a little earlier than usual with ar breakthrough win on the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour at the Noida Golf Course on Friday.
The Chandigarh girl who turns 22 on October 15 sealed her maiden title in the ninth leg of the Tour led from the front to seal her win by one shot from Jahanvi Bakshi.
Needing a clutch putt from around eight feet to ensure an outright win, Lakhmehar drained the putt and heaved a sigh of relief.
Her previous best on the Tour was fifth place and she said later, “This is a big win for me.”
Lakhmehar carded a 2-over 74 in the final round to total 227, while Jahanvi (75) was one behind on 228.
Amateur Avani Prashanth, who has regularly been in contention, was once again the top amateur, overall third on 230.
Top round
The Bangalore-based Avani had the best round of the day a level par 72 and shared third place with Hitaashee Bakshi (76).
For Avani, this was a sixth top amateur prize in 12 starts on the Hero WPG Tour. Of the six times, she has once been the overall winner, in Mumbai last year.
The lanky Lakhmehar, who has worked on her physical fitness and short game, was in a tie with the normally consistent Jahanvi when play began on the final day.
Though conditions continued to be difficult, the golfers were spared any rain stoppages.
Lakhmehar went into the sole lead on the very first hole which Jahanvi bogeyed. However, the Chandigarh golfer gave back that advantage with a dropped shot on four.
She then bogeyed seven and eight, even as Jahanvi picked a birdie and at the turn, had built up a three-shot lead.
On the tough Par-4 11th, Lakhmehar bogeyed but Jahanvi double-bogeyed and the gap narrowed to two.
Strong run
Lakhmehar then nailed two fine birdies in a row on 13 and 14 to get into a share of the lead once again.
Jahanvi bogeyed the Par-5 17th while Lakhmehar holed a crucial par putt to move ahead.
On 18, Jahanvi was just off the green, but she rolled it in for par from almost 10 feet. That left Lakhmehar needing to hole an eight-footer for the outright win.
She parred and took the title.
“I have been waiting for this for a long time. I am so grateful to my coaches, parents and the Noida Golf Club,” said the youngster, whose father, Satish, a non-golfer, was at hand to enjoy the moment.
Avani, who had two disappointing days with 78-80 in tough conditions, was in top form on the final day. She birdied one, nine and 18 but dropped shots on six, seven and 12.
Shweta Mansingh was sixth, while amateur Nishna Patel was seventh and Trimann Saluja eighth.
Siddhi Kapoor, the top pro last week, was ninth. Tenth place was shared by amateur Rishika Muralidhar, Saaniya Sharma and Seher Atwal.
The Tour now takes a break for four weeks and action resumes on October 13 with the tenth leg at the Chandigarh Golf Club.
Also read: In the rain, Jahanvi joins Lakhmehar atop NGC leader-board
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