Sneha Singh scores come-from-behind win at BPGC event

By Rahul Banerji

Two eagles in her closing round handed Hyderabad player Sneha Singh her first win of the 2024 Hero WPGT at the Bombay Presidency Golf Club on Thursday.

Winner of the 2023 WPGT Order of Merit, Sneha rallied from four shots behind overnight leader Hitaashee Bakshi in superb fashion to pip her long-time rival at the post, the WGAI said.

As 16-year-olds, Sneha and Hitaashee had fought a titanic battle in the final of the 2019 All India Ladies also at the BPGC with Sneha winning the 36-hole match at the very last. (read report here https://teetimetales.com/sneha-singh-of-hyderabad-wins-senior-womens-amateur-national-title/)

On Thursday, she opened and closed the final round with eagles to card a 7-under 63 while Hitaashee finished with a 68 to miss out by one shot again. Sneha’s winning total was 6 under 204 to Hitaashee’s 5 under 205.

Ridhima Dilawari returned a solid 2-under 68 for third place while last week’s amateur winner, Nishna Patel shot a 71 to tie Khushi Khanijau for fourth on 2 over 212.

Amandeep Drall (68-71-74) was sixth and Vani Kapoor (76-69-70) seventh.

Mannat Brar (72) and Vidhatri Urs (73) underlined the amateur strength in Indian women’s golf by finishing tied eighth on 216. Rhea Jha (76) was tenth, Neha Tripathi (74) 11^th and Ananya Datar (70) 12^th.

Close tussle

Sneha and Hitaashee played in different groups but were engaged in a close tussle throughout the day.

The Hyderabad golfer started four strokes adrift of Hitaashee Bakshi but the opening eagle and a birdie on hole 3 gave her a flying start.

Hitaashee, playing in the lead group and immediately behind Sneha’s flight, also birdied holes 2 and 3 before adding one more on hole 6.

Sneha turned in 3-under 32 and Hitaashee in 2-under 33 which meant the starting lead had been cut to half. On the back nine, Sneha birdied 11 which Hitaashee matched immediately behind her.

Sneha then picked up another shot on 13 to move within one shot of the leader before closing with her second eagle to join Hitaashee on 6 under for the tournament.

Hitaashee now needed to birdie the par-5 18^th for the win while par would mean a play-off. She ended up dropping a shot to hand Sneha the win instead.

The two were tied for second last week behind Nishna in Pune.

Sneha now leads the Order of Merit after the first two legs of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour.

Also read: Nishna climbs into contention with a bogey-free 64 at BPGC