No slip-up this time as Pranavi seals the win; turns professional

By Rahul Banerji

Pranavi Urs made very sure there would be no repeat of last week’s final hole disaster by winning the second leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour at the Bombay Presidency Golf Club on Friday.

Pranavi carded one-over 71 for a total of 5-over 215 to beat Ananya Datar (73) by two shots and announced that she was turning professional. As she was still an amateur, the winner’s cheque lf Rs 1,50,000 went to Ananya.

Pranavi’s new status is bound to make the competition still more intense in the ever-growing list of Indian women professionals.

The Mysore girl made a solid start with three birdies in her first five holes, before a first dropped shot. On the back nine, she had some nervous moments with three bogeys.

Ananya, one of the three co-leaders overnight, was however unable to capitalise even as Tvesa Malik slipped away from the race. Ananya played the back nine in par with a bogey and birdie each.

No way back

Tvesa had a forgettable round and fell away from the other in the lead group, dropping five shots over the final 11 holes. In all, she had seven shots against two birdies on the day for an eventual fourth-place finish.

Pranavi bogeyed twice in three holes on the back nine but Ananya could not close the gap, swapping bogey for birdie to maintain the gap. Three shots behind, Ananya still had five holes to put pressure.

Pranavi then dropped another shot on the 16^th hole to cut the gap further. Ananya did her best over the final four holes but could not find birdies as Pranavi won her second title on the Hero WPGT, while still being an amateur.

Follow-up

Pranavi’s earlier win came in the ninth leg of the 2018 season. 

Tvesa began with a bogey but a birdie on fifth meant she was only two behind Pranavi till arriving at the eighth tee after which she hit a rocky patch and never recovered.

Afshan Fatima, who started the final day one shot behind the three leaders, saw her chances take a hit with back-to-back bogeys before the turn.

A further two bogeys set her back further and a birdied final hole meant she finished with a 2-over par 73 and a total of 218 for third place.

Neha Tripathi (75) was fifth on 224, Siddhi Kapoor (77) sixth with a 225, while Oviya Reddi (78) was seventh and Khushi Khanijau (76) eighth.

Anousha Tripathi (76) and 2019 Order of Merit winner, Gaurika Bishnoi (78) were tied for ninth.

Ananya Datar now leads the Order of Merit after the first two events, while Afshan Fatima is second. Ridhima Dilawari, who won the first event and skipped the BPGC leg, is third.

Also read: Ananya Datar, Tvesa Malik share first round lead at BPGC