Sneha squanders lead but outlasts Vani in Clover Greens playoff

Event winner Sneha Singh of Hyderabad in action on Friday, the final day of the Hero WPGT 11th leg at Hosur’s Clover Greens in which she beat Vani Kapoor via a playoff. Image courtesy WGAI.

By Rahul Banerji

Sneha Singh, up by six shots with six holes to go, gave away the advantage but held her nerve to win a playoff against Vani Kapoor in the 11th leg of the Hero WPGT at Clover Greens in Hosur on Friday.

The Hyderabad golfer, who stunned the field with a course record 10-under round on Thursday, shot a 5 over par 76 in her final round before winning on the first play-off hole, the WGAI said.

Sneha and Vani totalled 3 under par 210 in regulation play.

The result ended an 18-month title drought for Sneha, for whom it was a first win since February last year.

Sneha (73-61-76) played the final round with Vani (67-71-72), who trailed her by four shots at the start of the day, and Nayanika Sanga (72-68-71), who was six behind.

Sneha had her struggles early in the day, starting with a bogey and no birdies for the next eight holes. 

With Vani going double bogey-bogey, and Nayanika also faltering with two bogeys and unable to find traction, Sneha stretched her lead with a birdie on the tenth hole.

After 12 holes, the former national champion seemed to have sewn up the title with a six-shot lead over the field. 

Late drama

Then came the twist. Nayanika birdied 13 and 14 while Sneha gave away two double bogeys on the same holes. 

Vani also birdied 13 to join Nayanika at 3 under leaving Sneha just one shot ahead.

Vani was unable to find any birdies on the last five holes while Nayanika gave away a bogey on 15 and parred the last three holes to fall to 2 under.

When Vani and Nayanika parred the 18^th, Sneha needed just a par for an outright win but crumbled under the pressure to fall into a play-off with Vani.

Smriti Bhargav (70) finished on 2 under 211 as did amateur Ayesha Gupta, who was the first-round co-leader, in a three-way tie for third alongside Nayanika.

Finishing sole sixth was Riya Jadon, who had a rocky ride over the last five holes with three birdies and two bogeys, including one on 18.

Jasmine Shekar (69) and Lavanya Jadon (71) tied for seventh at even par 213, while Amandeep Drall (71) was ninth.

Ridhima Dilawari (72), Ananya Datar (72) and Shagun Narain (74) rounded off the Top-10.

Anvvi Dahhiya was 13^th and Khushi Khanijau, Tvesa Malik and Heena Kang tied for 14^th.

Ridhima with three wins this season stays on top of the Hero Order of Merit, while Jasmine Shekar, Vani and Amandeep are second, third and fourth.

Also read: Sneha grabs Clover Greens lead with blistering second round