Vani edges past Hitaashee in playoff to win an all-DLF battle

Vani Kapoor halted the charge of the young guns with a polished display on her home course. the DLF Golf and Country Club on Friday. Image courtesy WGAI.

By Rahul Banerji 

Vani Kapoor won her first title in almost 18 months edging out Hitaashee Bakshi on the third play-off hole at the DLF Golf and Country Club on Friday.

Her last win had also come at the DLF GCC – home to both golfers involved in the playoff – in March of 2023, the WGAI said.

Vani started the final day three shots behind overnight leaders Hitaashee and Vidhatri Urs.

Playing in the group ahead of the two, Vani was 1-under 35 on the front nine, but still trailed Hitaashee who was 2-over for the stretch and Vidhatri at level par.

Vani stumbled on the closing stretch with a bogey on the par-4 11^th hole and a double bogey on the par-4 14^th but fought back with birdies on holes 15 and 17 to set a clubhouse target of 4-over 220.

Starting the day on 1-over 145, Hitaashee was 2-over for the front nine, and then dropped a double on the back nine, slipping to 4-over for the tournament with seven holes left. \

Vain search

The Order of Merit leader needed a birdie over the last seven holes to beat the clubhouse score but was unable to find it, finishing in a tie with Vani.

Mysore’s Vidhatri, in line for an astonishing fourth win in a row on the domestic women’s pro tour, the challenge fell apart on the home stretch.

She parred the front nine to be right in the thick of the title race but two bogeys and a double after the turn saw her fall off the pace to 5 over for the tournament and out of contention.

At the top, the play-off turned into an all-DLF battle as Vani and Hitaashee parred the 18th hole on the first go and then birdied it the second time round.

On the third visit, Vani birdied by which time Hitaashee had already taken five shots and conceded the shootout.

Morale-booster

The win will give Vani a confidence boost ahead of next month Hero Women’s Indian Open which will be played at the same course.

Behind Vani and Hitaashee, Vidhatri finished third for the third time in six starts, and amateur Anvvi Dahhiya who carded the day’s equal best score of 69 was fourth.

Amateurs took the next three spots, too, as Janneya Dasannjee (74) was tied for fifth with Kashika Misra (70), while Keerthana Rajeev (70) was seventh.

Khushi Khanijau, who also had a 69 on Friday was tied eighth with Sneha Singh (77) and Kriti Chowhan (80).

Amandeep Drall (76) was 14^th, while Shweta Mansingh, who was tied fourth after the second round, had a rough day with an 84 and finished T-15.

Agrima Manral landed a hole in one on Par-3 and carded 76 to finish 17^th.

Hitaashee maintained her position at the top of the merit list, while Sneha Singh and Amandeep Drall stayed second and third. Khushi Khanijau is fourth and Vidhatri has moved up to fifth from seventh last week.

Also read: Vidhatri overcomes late slip to share DLF lead with Hitaashee