Smriti Mehra chasing Pune encore

Edited by Anand Datla

March 02, 2015:

After an impressive win at the Oxford Golf & Country Club, Smriti Mehra will be eager for an encore in the seventh leg of the Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour. The veteran golfer outplayed the youngsters to clinch her maiden victory of the season and will look to add another title at the scenic Poona Club Golf Course this week. The INR 5,00,000 event will see 13 professional golfers vying for the top spot and will culminate on 5th March.

Smriti Mehra is currently placed second in the Hero Order of Merit with total earnings of INR 4,42,000 from six appearances and would be keen to reduce the gap at the top of the table. However, Smriti is expected to face tough competition from Delhi youngster Vani Kapoor, Hero MotoCorp sponsored Sharmila Nicollet, Indian origin English golfer Kiran Matharu, Panchkula golfer Amandeep Drall and local girl Shweta Galande. This event will also see Delhi’s Ayesha Kapur making her debut as a professional.

Vani Kapoor has been in excellent form this season with three victories and one runner up finish in six appearances and currently leads the Hero Order of Merit with total earnings of INR 6,34,400. Vani would want to move past her dismal performance in Leg 6 and would be eager to make amends at the Poona Club Golf Course. Bengaluru golfer Sharmila Nicollet, whose return to the tour after a long break hasn’t been as per expectations, would also be keen to make her presence felt amidst a healthy mix of talented and experienced golfers.

The picturesque par 71 Poona Club Golf Course is a challenging course, and is all set to test the mental and physical caliber of the players.