Ridhima stands fast to win KGA Hero WPGT event by four shots

By Rahul Banerji

Ridhima Dilawari ended her recent title drought with a four-shot victory in the eighth leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour at the KGA course in Bangalore on Friday.

The 23-year-old began the day in a share of the lead, opening with two birdies in her first three holes. She then ground out 13 pars in the remaining 15 holes for a level par 72 final round.

Ridhima’s 1-under 215 saw her finish four shots ahead of Jahanvi Bakshi (72), Seher Atwal (72) and Pranavi Urs (76).

It also ended a long wait this season for Ridhima, who has been looking for form and rhythm after winning twice in 2021, at Prestige Golfshire in January and then at the Tolly in December.

This year, she has made starts but was unable to convert them, till the most recent one on Friday.

Overnight joint leader Pranavi Urs dropped a shot early and with Ridhima picking up birdies, she fell three behind and was unable to catch up.

Hopes dented

Pranavi’s chances were further damaged with a double bogey on the par-4 seventh hole, though she did have a birdie on 10.

She had a chance to be sole second, but bogeys on 16 and 18 dropped her to shared second with a 76 that had one birdie, three bogeys and the double.

Jahanvi Bakshi, tied fourth after the second day, had two birdies and two bogeys, while Seher had one birdie and one bogey in her 72.

Afshan Fatima (74), third overnight, dropped to tied fifth with Siddhi Kapoor (72), while Agrima Manral (70) who had the day’s equal best score was seventh.

Trimann Saluja (77) gave away seven bogeys against just two birdies and was eighth, while Lakhmehar Pardesi (70) and Gaurika Bishnoi (77) were tied for ninth.

Asmitha Sathish (73), runner-up a week earlier, and Neha Tripathi (77) were T11.

The final day also saw a hole-in-one from Astha Madan (71), who had one of three sub-par scores of the day. She however finished T-16^th.

The next two events are also slated to be held in Bengaluru next month at the Bangalore Golf Club and Prestige Golfshire respectively.

Also read: Pranavi fights back to join Ridhima in KGA WPGT event lead