Neha Tripathi ends title wait at Golfshire leg of Hero WPGT

By Rahul Banerji

For four and a half years close enough, Neha Tripathi persevered. In the life of a professional athlete that is a long time, and one that can create doubt and erode self-belief.

It is in grinding through the darkest hours and holding on to the conviction of being good enough to belong that defines grit. And Neha needed all of that to end a near 55-month wait.

On Friday, the 31-year-old closed out the 10^th leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour at Prestige Golfshire near Bangalore by a shot.

Neha, who last won the first leg of the 2019 season, carded a 2 under 70 to finish on 1 under 215 for the three rounds.

It put her ahead of amateurs Saanvi Somu (69) and Vidhatri Urs (72) whose totalled level par 216s.

Neha was the lone flag bearer for professionals among the top four, as Mannat Brar (70) took fourth place.

Early setback

Neha, starting the final day in second place, dropped an early shot while Vidhatri, the overnight leader, did the same a little later in the round.

Both birdied the fifth, as did Saanvi, who then added birdies on eight and nine to climb into contention.

On the back nine, Neha birdied twice while Saanvi failed to make any gains. Vidhatri on the other hand swapped birdie for bogey at which stage Neha led the field by one.

All three players parred the final two holes, leaving Neha the deserving winner by one shot.

“This feels real good and it is a reward for all the hard work I have put in over the last 2-3 years. I did not lose belief despite not winning though I did come close at times,” said Neha.

Mannat, the no. 1 in the ladies and Category A on the IGU standings, had four birdies against two bogeys for her 70 and was fourth.

Khushi Khanijau (73) and Hitaashee Bakshi (71) ended fifth and sixth, while Sneha Singh, who had an eagle in her card of 72 was seventh.

Dominant displays

Amateurs Keerthana Rajeev Nair (74) and Prakruthi Sastry (76) and Kriti Chowhan (74) were tied for eighth.

Khushi had three birdies, two bogeys and a double in her 73, while Hitaashee had three birdies and a double bogey.

It was a great tournament for amateurs, who occupied three places in the top four and two more were tied-eighth. It was the third straight tournament in which an amateur had finished at least in a tie for second.

The win also pushed Neha up into the third spot on the Hero Order of Merit. Sneha Singh and Seher Atwal occupy the top two spots.

Also read: Vidhatri leads at Golfshire as Neha seeks to end title drought