By Rahul Banerji
Indian women golfers performed impressively at the Ladies European Tour’s Lalla Meryem Cup in Morocco with Pranavi Urs finishing fifth and Diksha Dagar ninth.
While Pranavi returned a closing 6-under 67 (8-under 211 total) for her first career top five placing on the LET, two-time tour winner Diksha shot a 72 to total 5-under 214.
England’s Bronte Law came from behind with a scorching final round of 9 under 64 for a three-shot victory on a low scoring final day at the Royal Golf Dar-es Salaam’s Blue Course.
Pranavi, who had rounds of 71 and 73 on the first two days made a quick start with four birdies and an eagle on the front nine for a stunning 6 under 31. She then swapped birdie for bogey on the way back for her 67.
Diksha birdied thrice and dropped two shots on her way to a 1 under 72 on the par-73 Blue Course.
Pranavu earned playing rights on the LET at December’s Q School also in Morocco to become the third Indian on the tour along with Diksha and Aditi Ashok.
At the five-round qualifying event in Marrakesh, she took a share of 12th place on 12 under par 351 with scores of 68, 69, 71, 74, 70 where the top 20 and ties (22 players in all) earned tour status.
Pranavi’s close friend Karandeep Kochhar meanwhile was the best-finishing Indian at the Asian Tour’s International Series Oman on Sunday.
Carlos Ortiz eased past fellow LIV Golf members Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa and Chilean star Joaquin Neimann at the $2 million event by a comfortable four-shot margin.
The Mexico player finished on 19 under 269, Oosthuizen had 15 under 273 total and Masters special invitee Neimann was a further shot behind on 14 under 274.
Top Indian
Kochhar’s closing 72 earned him a share of 31st place while Gaganjeet Bhullar, Honey Baisoya, Jeev Milkha Singh, Rashid Khan and Chikkarangappa S. were further behind.
In Morocco, Law too started fast with an opening birdie but returned the advantage on the next hole itself.
She then reeled off eight birdies, an eagle and another bogey over the next 16 holes to seal her third LET victory.
Law who won the 2018 Q School in Morocco said later on the LET website: “I think I should come back to Morocco more often, I’m very happy to come back and win. This win feels a little bit surreal.
“I holed out on 14 from the fairway for an eagle and at that moment I thought there was a chance if I kept making birdies. That was the turning point.
“This win represents all the hard work that I did in the off-season.
“I really struggled last year and have done a lot of work with my mental coach and Ian Woosnam who is obviously a legend of the game.
“This proves that when I put the hard work in and when I believe in myself that I can still compete at the very top of my game.”
France’s Pauline Roussin-Bouchard was the runner up on 10-under-par with rounds of 71, 67 and 71. Overnight leader Maria Fassi of Mexico and Spain’s Fatima Fernandez Cano tied for third on 9-under-par 210s.
The LET next heads to Florida for the Aramco Team Series Presented by PIF – Tampa which takes place from March 8 to 10.
Also read: Pranavi Urs earns LET playing rights at Morocco Q School finals
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