Maiden win for rookie Heena Kang at Golfshire leg of Hero WPGT

Panchkula’s Heena Kang played a controlled closing seven holes at Golfshire for her maiden win just a month after turning professional. Image courtesy WGAI.

By Rahul Banerji

Rookie Heena Kang did well to hold her nerve over the closing holes to win her maiden professional title by a shot at Prestige Golfshire near Bangalore on Friday.

Heena, who was four shots ahead with eight holes left kept a clean sheet after a blip on 11 to emerge champion at the 11h leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour, the WGAI said.

The Panchkula golfer, fifth on her pro debut last month, was chased all the way by playing partner, amateur Lavanya Gupta.

Lavanya, who started the final day two shots behind Heena, fell five behind, going 4 over by the turn. 

She put in a great charge after that, picking up three shots to close in on the leader 

A fourth birdie could have forced a playoff but Lavanya finished par-par like Heena, who ended with a one-shot cushion.

Heena and Lavanya began the day with a bogey and the latter had a second bogey on the fourth. One hole later, Heena also bogeyed and that meant she was still two ahead of Lavanya.

Big gap

A dropped shot for Lavanya on eight and birdie for Heena on nine put the latter four ahead.

Things changed on the back nine as Lavanya fought back but Heena held on and made no mistakes after a bogey on 11, where Lavanya also gave away a shot.

Heena in the past few years has worn India colours at major events like the Queen Sirikit Cup, the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific and World Amateurs.

Ananya Garg, who was six behind Heena at the start, was three-over in the first five holes but fought back with four birdies on either side of the turn to hand in the day’s best card of 1 under par 71 for sole third place.

Early struggles

Jasmine Shekar, playing in the leader group, struggled on the front nine with a six-over stretch that included four bogeys and one double. 

She had two birdies and a bogey on the back nine and carded 77 to finish fourth.

Neha Tripathi (73), amateur Riya Jadon (74) and Ananya Datar (75) were tied for fifth at 223, while amateur Mannat Brar and Agrima Manral shared eighth place on 224. 

Ridhima Dilawari (74) rounded off the top 10.

Vani Kapoor continues to lead the Hero Order of Merit with Ridhima in second place. Jasmine, Neha and Amandeep occupy the third to fifth places.

Also read: Heena Kang is sole leader at Golfshire Hero WPGT event