Vani’s closing birdie hat-trick seals her fifth title at Rambagh

Vani Kapoor receives her winner’s cheque from Rambagh Golf Club captain Yogendra Singh in Jaipur on Thursday. Image courtesy WGAI.

By Rahul Banerji

Vani Kapoor produced three birdies in the last three holes to leapfrog Jasmine Shekar and win the Rambagh Golf Club leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour in Jaipur on Thursday.

Vani’s birdie burst gave her a round of 2 under par 68 for the third straight day and a three-day total of 6-under 204, the WGAI said.

Jasmine Shekar (68) despite closing with a birdie, fell one stroke short on 5 under 205.

It was Vani’s fifth win of the season as she maintains her lead at the top of the Hero Order of Merit.

Sneha Singh (69) was third on 2 under 208, while Amandeep Drall (70) was fourth on level par 210.

Vani set out a stroke ahead of the field but lost her lead on the very first hole as Jasmine opened Thursday with a birdie but fell back again as she dropped a shot on hole two.

With Vani dropping back-to-back bogeys on holes three ands four, Jasmine was back on level terms despite a second bogey of her own.

Continuing battle

The battle carried on as Vani birdied the sixth but Jasmine caught up again with a birdie on nine.

On the back nine, Jasmine birdied early to go ahead while Vani’s run of pars continued from seven to 15.

Approaching the last three holes, Jasmine was still one ahead but Vani’s birdie run against a lone gain for Jasmine proved to be decisive.

Amateur Riya Jadon (67) produced a solid closing round to climb into fifth place at 1 over 211.

Seher Atwal (66) with a run of five birdies in a seven-hole stretch around the turn tied for sixth on 2 over 212.

Smriti Bhargava (69) was eighth and Khushi Khanijau (70), Jahanvi Bakshi (73) and Ridhima Dilawari (75) were T9 on 4 over 214.

With five wins from her 11 starts, Vani leads the Order of Merit, while Amandeep Drall is second, Jasmine Shekar third, Sneha Singh fourth and Ridhima Dilawari fifth headed into yje season’s final event.

Also read:  Vani takes a one-shot lead into final round at Rambagh course