By Rahul Banerji
Amandeep Drall made sure of her first title of the season, winning the 10th leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour by a comfortable four-shot margin at the Bangalore Golf Club on Friday.
Her last win came in the 11th leg of the 2018 season, 16 starts back.
On a day when no one went under on the par-70 BGC layout, Amandeep had two birdies against three bogeys, while Gaurika Bishnoi, who also shot a 71, leapfrogged from T6 to second as the rest of the field faltered.
First round co-leader Gursimar Badwal was expected to provide the strongest challenge but her challenge fizzled out with three bogeys on the back nine after a double bogey, bogey and two birdies on her outbound nine. She finished with a round of 4-over 74 and third place.
Big relief
Amandeep, whose previous best this season was two second places besides tied third place on four other occasions, would have been relieved with Friday’s result.
The consistent Kapurthala golfer became the sixth different winner in 10 events this season.
Gaurika showed that she is achieving high levels of consistency. Besides her two wins this season, she finished runner-up on Friday for the third time and has also been third twice.
Afshan Fatima had a roller-coaster round with a double and three bogeys in her first four holes before picking up three shots in the next four holes to turn in 2-over 37.
On the back nine, she birdied twice but double bogeyed the last hole for a 2-over 72 and T4 finish alongside Sonam Chugh (73) and Ananya Datar (74).
Recovery
Ananya was 4-over after the first five holes, but did well to recover with three birdies and may well have finished much higher but for a triple bogey on the penultimate hole.
Neha Tripathi (73), Ridhima Dilawari (75) and Gurjot Badwal (75), in her first outing as a professional, were T7. Gauri Karhade, one of the three players to shoot the day’s best of 71, was tenth.
Gaurika continues to lead the Hero Order of Merit with Rs.8,61,800, while Neha Tripathi is second with Rs.7,69,133. The win on the day took Amandeep to third with Rs.7,64,333.
Gursimar Badwal and Ridhima Dilawari are fifth and sixth.
The next event is the 11th leg which will be played at the Hyderabad Golf Club from August 7.
Also read: Atwal continues 3M Open surge; season’s third win for Ridhima
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