Winners jostle for more success in women’s pro event at Prestige Golfshire

By Rahul Banerji 

A two-time winner already on the professional tour of the Women’s Golf Association of India Gaurika Bishnoi will be hoping to extend her lead at the top of the Hero Order of Merit at the ninth leg of the that tees off at the Prestige Golfshire course near Bangalore on Wednesday.

It will be the second WPGA event the course will play host to in a row.

The tournament, featuring 25 professionals and three amateurs, carries a third successive purse of Rs. 10 lakh which marks a record by itself as women’s golf in India continues to grow.

Even with eighth leg winner Tvesa Malik out on medical grounds, the field is a strong one with Gaurika facing a stiff challenge from Ridhima Dilawari, one of three players to have won twice this season.

The field also includes Astha Madan, who has been playing international events outside India,

Besides Neha, the closest challengers are expected to be the experienced Smriti Mehra, Amandeep Drall, Gursimar Badwal and Millie Saroha, who has so often come close to an elusive maiden title.

Titles in the eight legs so far this season have been shared between five players. Gaurika, Tvesa and Ridhima Dilawari have won twice each while Neha and Gursimar have a win each.

Amandeep Drall, a consistent performer is still looking for her maiden title this year.

Tee times for Round 1

8 am: Sneha Sharan (A) and Afshan Fatima;

8:10 am: Gaurika Bishnoi and Jyotsana Singh;

8:20 am: Rhea P. Saravanan (A), Shriya Vivek and Smriti Mehra;

8:30 am: Ishvari Prasanna, Siddhi Kapoor and Astha Madan;

8:40 am: Suchitra Ramesh, Amandeep Drall and Mehar Atwal;

8:50 am: Ayesha Kapur, Khushi Khanijau and Gauri Karhade;

9:00 am: Komal Chaudhary, Oviya Reddi and Sonam Chugh;

9:10 am: Neha Tripathi, Anousha Tripathi and Ananya Datar;

9:20 am: Millie Saroha, Gursimar Badwal and Tanirika Singh;

9:30 am: Ridhima Dilawari, Ananya Barthakur (A) and Anisha Padukone.

JT, McDowell in for Hero Challenge

Meanwhile, according to the European Tour’s website, Justin Thomas, Graeme McDowell and Tyrrell Hatton are the first three to confirm participation in the Hero Challenge – the innovative, fast and fun night golf contest which returns to Scotland next Tuesday, July 9.

The Hero Challenge will be played at the par three 15^th hole at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick, before the venue hosts the Scottish Open two days later.

The three will be amongst six stars in the event. World number seven and 2017 US PGA Championship winner Thomas is making his debut at the Scottish Open next week and will also be teeing it up in the Hero Challenge for the first time.

All three will be aiming to emulate 2018 Masters tournament champion Patrick Reed and current US PGA Tour rankings leader Matt Kuchar, who triumphed in the first two editions of the Hero Challenge in Scotland.

After its debut on the European Tour at the British Masters in 2016, subsequent editions of the Hero Challenge have been held at the British Masters, Scottish Open and DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, in 2017 and 2018.

Also read: Tvesa puts in late charge to land season’s second title