By Rahul Banerji
Pranavi Urs took control when it was most needed to seal victory in the ninth leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour at the Bangalore Golf Club on Friday.
Four birdies in five holes on the back nine on the final day gave Pranavi the kick needed to keep Seher Atwal at bay and fetched a fourth win of the season.
The Mysore teenager also extended her lead at the top of the Hero Order of Merit for a comfortable cushion over her chasers.
Pranavi had a 2-over 71 with four birdies against six bogeys and totalled 2-over 209, while Seher (71) with one birdie against two bogeys, aggregated 5-over 212.
No one in the field finished with an under-par total and there were only two sub-par rounds, one each by Pranavi and Seher in the tournament.
Starting the final round with a three-shot lead at the par-69 BGC course, Pranavi came under pressure as Seher closed the gap to one shot.
A two-shot swing on the tenth hole with Pranavi bogeying and Seher sinking a birdie saw the two on level terms with eight holes to go.
This was when the Mysore golfer put in a decisive kick.
Surging away
Between 12 and 16, Pranavi sank four birdies while Seher could only manage pars and the gap proved to be insurmountable despite a bogey-bogey finish for Pranavi.
Pranavi, who feels she is fully fit and ready to go full out, has now won the first, fourth and seventh legs.
She was also second in the fifth and eighth legs, giving her a top-two finish in six of the nine legs played so far.
Seher this finished second for the second time in succession,
Hitaashee Bakshi, winner of the third and sixth legs, was third with an aggregate of 215.
Sneha Singh, winner of the fourth Hero WPGT title as an amateur, finished fourth in her professional debut. She carded the final day’s best score of level par 69 for a 216 total.
Oviya Reddi (70) and Gaurika Bishnoi (71) were tied for fifth and Afshan Fatima (73) and Nayanika Sanga (76) were tied seventh.
Amateur Jasmine Shekar (72) was ninth as Gauri Karhade (74) and Ananya Datar (76) were tied 10th.
The tenth leg of the Hero WPG Tour will also be held in Bangalore, at the Prestige Golfshire from July 20 to 22.
Also read: Late slip by Atwal lets Urs extend her lead at BGC event
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