Aditi Ashok steals Bengaluru thunder

Report by Anand Datla

July 17, 2015: Some days turn out to be better than others. Indian golf seems to have found its freaky Friday today, with success streaming in for our golfers from around the world. Anirban Lahiri has been amazingly good at The Open Championships and little boy Shubham Jaglan left us astounded by winning the Junior World Golf Championships in San Diego. Just as Vani Kapoor and Sharmila Nicollet looked set for a battle royale in the final round of the eleventh leg in Bengaluru, amateur golfer Aditi Ashok stormed from the ranks to snatch victory with an astonishing 64 in the final round at the KGA course today.

It was certainly one of the best rounds of golf witnessed on the Women’s Pro Golf Tour in recent memory. Young Aditi was in blistering form in a bogey free third round to clinch a two shot victory over Kapoor.

Vani wasn’t bad at all – she shot a compact 71 to finish at an even 216 through 54 holes. But with Aditi firing birdies almost at will, there was barely anything the field could do, but watch in awe and admiration.

Sharmila Nicollet, in a share of the lead with Vani overnight, failed to push ahead. She made two double bogeys and a bogey in her 73 to slip to third at two over 218. Amandeep Drall, consistently impressive in recent weeks, shot a 71 to finish in fourth with an overall score of 220. Ankita Tiwana also shot a 71 to complete the top five, just one behind Drall.

The week though belonged to the brave young girl in Aditi. She made three birides on the front nine – 2, 4 & 9 as she turned in 33 shots. As if that weren’t impressive enough, she leapt into a higher realm soon after she started her march to the clubhouse.

Back to back birdies at 11, 12 and then at 14, 15 saw her improve to 7-under for the day. She had undone the damage of a 74 and 76 in the first two rounds, slipping under par for the first time this week. In a fitting finish, Aditi made another birdie at the final hole to sign off in style, snatching victory from relative obscurity.

It was a phenomenal performance by the young golfer. It will not be long before this lady turns professional.

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