Ahmedabad, Jan 7 (IANS) Vani Kapoor overcame two-stroke deficit as she carded a superb three-under 69 in the final round to carry forward her stellar form of 2015 into the New Year and win the first leg of the Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour here on Thursday.
Overnight leader Kiran Matharu (two-over 74) could not sustain the momentum and had to settle for a second place finish, while another leader Mehar Atwal dropped to the sixth spot as she scored a worst round of 13-over 237 at the Kensville Golf & Country Club.
Delhi’s Vani struggled with the conditions in the last two rounds and started the day at third position. However, she was in terrific form and played a blemish-free round, firing three birdies on the 12th, 14th and 16th holes to finish with a total score of 223 after 54 holes. In the process, she also carded the only sub-par round of the event.
Overseas player Kiran had an indifferent start and carded a double bogey on the second hole. Thereafter, she tried to stage a comeback, but her three birdies on the third, fourth and eighth holes were neutralized by the same number of bogeys on the 11th, 12th and 14th holes. With a total score of 226, she had to settle for the runner-up prize.
Chandigarh’s Saaniya Sharma carded 73 on the final day to clinch the third position on 228total, while Panchkula’s Amandeep Drall (75) and Kapurthala golfer Gursimar Badwal (73) finished tied fourth with identical totals of 233.
Kolkata’s Smriti Mehra and Delhi’s Mehar finished tied sixth on 237 after the final round. They were followed by Delhi’s Ankita Tiwana and Pune’s Shweta Galande who were placed eighth and ninth respectively.
Shweta and Neha Tripathi carded an eagle apiece on the day, taking the eagle count to three in the first leg.
The Tour now moves to Kalhaar Blues & Greens, Ahmedabad for the second leg to be played from January 11-14.
