Pranavi blitzes HGA field for season’s fifth Hero WPGT title

By Rahul Banerji

Riding on solid recent form and the confidence gained from her LPGA Q School progress, Pranavi Urs decimated the field for her fifth title of the season in Hyderabad on Thursday.

Pranavi continued her domination of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour, winning the 12^th leg of the Tour by a massive five-shot margin at the Hyderabad Golf Association course.

With no under sub-par scores and most going well over, Pranavi’s two-over 72 gave her a comfortable cushion over the rest.

Hyderabad golfer and former national champion Sneha Singh shot a one-over 71 to share second place alongside amateur Kriti Chowhan, who had two bogeys in the last three holes in a round of 73.

It was Pranavi’s fifth win in 12 events and she extended her lead on the Hero Order of Merit.

Her winnings stand at Rs. 12,24,500 while second-placed Hitaashee Bakshi has Rs.8,62,700. Seher Atwal with Rs.8,23,350 is third.

Gauri Karhade (71) and Seher (73) tied for fourth on six-over 216, while Nayanika Sanga (71), and amateurs Heena Kang (73) and Vidhatri Urs (76) tied for sixth on seven-over 217.

Steady start

Starting the day with a four-shot lead, Pranavi began in a steady fashion with five pars in a row.

She then had a double bogey but followed up with a birdie-bogey sequence to turn in two-over 36.

Kriti Chowhan, Pranavi’s nearest rival was unable to make up ground on the front nine as she started with a double before adding a birdie and a bogey.

In contrast, Vidhatri collapsed with 4-over 38 on the front nine and Sneha moved up with nine pars on the front nine.

Pranavi had two birdies and back-to-back bogeys on the back nine to finish with 72, while Kriti had a double and a birdie for her 73.  

Sneha did find two birdies but also dropped three shots to end with a 71, five shots behind Pranavi.

Vidhatri had three bogeys against one birdie on the back nine and ended the day with a disappointing 76.

Jyotsana Singh, one of the two players to return a card of even par 70, was ninth on 218, while Shweta Mansingh (70) and Saaniya Sharma (73) were tied for 10^th.

Winner of the 11^th leg, Hitaashee Bakshi (75) and Asmitha Sathish (72) were tied for 12^th at 220.

The Tour now returns to the National Capital Region for the 13th leg at the DLF Golf & Country Club in Gurgaon, as a precursor to the Hero Women’s Indian Open next month.

Also read: Pranavi opens four-shot gap on field in 12th leg of Hero WPGT