Gursimar Badwal overcame a shaky start and kept her nerve to register a second successive win in as many weeks as she clinched the Hero-KGA Women’s Pro Golf Championship in Bengaluru on Friday.
The 25-year-old Kapurthala golfer, who was two-over through the first six holes, compiled a final day’s card of one-under 71 to finish her 54 holes in three-over 219 and win the title by three shots over amateur Pranavi Urs (70). Siddhi Kapoor (69), who had the day’s best card, was third at 224.
Gursimar, whose only win prior to this season was last year, won last week at Prestige Golfshire and this week’s title at the KGA makes her the third multiple winner on the Hero WPGT 2017. Pranavi who was four shots behind overnight leader came close as she was one-under 35 for the front nine. But the star on the front nine was Siddhi, whose four-under 32 saw her zoom up from overnight T-11th to finish third.
Pranavi was again one-under 35 for a day’s total of 70 and 222 for the week to finish second. Siddhi who was five-under through 16 holes bogeyed last two for 69 and was third. Overnight second, amateur Tanirika Singh (76) was tied fourth with Trisha Sunil (72) at 225, ahead of Hero Order of Merit leader, Gaurika Bishnoi (72) and Gurbani Singh (76).
First round leader, Neha Tripathi (74) and Afshan Fatima (74) were tied eighth, while Tvesa Malik (72) and Amandeep Drall (74) completed the Top-10. Rhea P. Saravanan (76) dropped from tied 5th to 12th. Gursimar improved one place from fourth to third on the Order of Merit, while Gaurika Bishnoi and Amandeep Drall maintained their first and second places. Vani Kapoor is fourth and Neha Tripathi fifth.
On Thursday, Badwal bounced back from a modest first round to hit the front with an even par 72 despite a mid-round blip on the second day. Gursimar was one shot clear of Tanirika (70). On a day when some of the bigger names were off colour, Tanirika, was in the spotlight with the day’s best card of two-under 70 which included a whopping seven birdies.
Tanirika, who is a member of the Indian national amateur squad, made amends for her first round 79 and was five-over 149 in sole second. It seemed to be a day for the amateurs, as Gurbani Singh (74) and Pranavi (75) were third and fourth at 150 and 152.
