By Rahul Banerji
Strong performances by a good-sized Indian contingent at the VP Bank Swiss Open were headlined by Tvesa Malik’s 11th place finish on Saturday.
The Delhi-born Tvesa, who already has three top-10 finishes in the current season on the Ladies European Tour made up for a disappointing first round 73 with cards of 66 and 68 for 9-under par aggregate 207.
The 25-year-old was seven shots behind winner Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand who took her second win of the 2021 LET season and her fourth title overall. at the GolfPark Holzhäusern
India’s Olympic heroine Aditi Ashok (70-69-71, 210) was tied for 20th while Vani Kapoor (73-72-67) finished T29 on 4-under 212 and Gaurika Bishnoi (73-69-71) took a share of 35th place on 3-under 213.
Aditi returns to the LPGA Tour for the remaining part of the season now, tweeting “Was a nice few weeks on @LETgolf & enjoyed playing the GolfPark Holzhaeusern.
“Thanks to the greenskeeping staff & grateful to all volunteers & spectators this week. It’s time to be back on the @LPGA for the last few events of the season.”
Tight race
At the top of the order, the 18-year-old Atthaya clinched the win in a close final round in the course of which she made up a four-shot deficit with as many birdies on her front nine on Saturday.
Two further birdies on 16 and 17 gave the Thai teenager a 16-under final card that the chasers were unable to cover. She finished a shot up on playing partner Marianne Skarpnord, of Norway.
Tvesa’s final round of 4-under 68 was built around four birdies, two on either side of the turn and an eagled Par-5 early in her back nine against two dropped shots while Aditi had two birdies and one bogey in her 1-under 71 on Saturday.
“I hit pretty good shots out there and I gave myself a lot of chances to make birdies,” Atthaya was quoted as saying later.
“I rolled the putts really well today and was making a lot of them,” added the 2021 Race to Costa del Sol (Order of Merit) leader.
In the 2021 Race to Costa del Sol, Atthaya’s second win of the season means she extends her advantage at the top of the standings, the LET said.
Australia’s Stephanie Kyriacou is second while Finland’s Sanna Nuutinen is third and Skarpnord moves up to fourth after her runner-up finish in Switzerland.
Tvesa occupies 23rd place on the LET Order of Merit.
Also read: Aditi Ashok scripts top-10 finish in Sweden, T-38 for Vani Kapoor
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