Sneha holds off Hitaashee in Vizag for second 2024 WPGT title

By Rahul Banerji

Sneha Singh picked up her second win of the season in the fourth leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour at Visakhapatnam’s East Point Golf Club on Friday.

Sneha, who held a five-shot overnight lead, carded a level par 72 but still managed to hold off Hitaashee Bakshi at the finish line, the WGAI said.

Hitaashee did make a charge with a bogey-free 69 on the final day, but it was not enough to overturn the five-shot deficit she started with.

End to end

Sneha totalled 5-under 211 while completing her wire-to-wire win. Hitaashee aggregated 3-under 213 for another second place and young amateur Zara Anand put together a fine 69 to finish third on 1-under 215.

Sneha bogeyed early but a birdie soon thereafter meant she turned in even par. On the way home, she swapped two bogeys for as many birdies to maintain her momentum.

Hitaashee, who won the third leg, birdied three times without a bogey, but even that fell short of Sneha’s total.

Sneha has won twice and been a joint runner-up with Hitaashee in the opening leg. She was the only player this week to have carded all three rounds at par or better.

This is also the second year running she has won more than once, becoming the first multiple winner in 2024.

Hitaashee now has three runner-up finishes in the first, second and fourth legs and a win in the third.

Good promise

The promising Zara Anand shot a fine 69 to follow rounds of 74 and 72 on the first two days.

Zara has been attracting attention with her silver medal at the National Games and a runner-up finish at the All-India Amateurs run by the Indian Golf Union.

The round of the week came from Ridhima Dilawari, whose 6-under 66 included a superb run of five birdies from holes 11 to 15. It was also a ladies’ course record at the East Point Golf Club.

Overall, Ridhima had seven birdies against one bogey to take fourth place on level par 216.

Khushi Khanijau (76) was fifth, while Jasmine Shekar (77), runner-up in the third leg at Kolkata, was sixth. Rhea Jha (76) was seventh and Shweta Mansingh (74) ended eighth.

Seher Atwal (78), Snigdha Goswami (76) and Disha Kavery (78) were tied for ninth place.

Sneha has also edged ahead of Hitaashee again atop the Hero Order of Merit.

The Hyderabad player has won Rs. 4,59,500 in four starts while Hitaashee has earned Rs. 4,59,000, just Rs. 500 less. Khushi Khanijau is third with Jasmine Shekar and Ridhima Dilawari occupy the next two places.

Also read: Sneha Singh holds solid lead at Vizag leg of Hero WPGT