27 July 2018: Women’s golf in India is clearly on an uptick. We are down ten pegs on the 2018 season, and the thrills and spills so far have made for an exciting season. Amandeep Drall took it on a spin and gave it new orbit with a thrilling come from behind victory at Clover Greens.
The plucky lady from Panchkula scored a memorable two stroke victory over Vani Kapoor to score her second victory this season. Amandeep shot under par for the third straight day, catapulting herself to victory on a brilliant five under 67 in the final round. She had also won the title during the eighth leg at the same club in June.
“I was confident about my iron and wedge play, Just needed to keep the driver in the fairway and I managed to do that pretty well,” explained Amandeep to Golfing Indian. “I knew putting would be the key. It was also important to judge the wind on a few holes, play against myself and shoot a low round.
“I three putted the fourth from 24 feet, and that pinched me pretty bad.” she ruminated. “After that I was determined to hole putt from anywhere on the green. I trusted my ability to read the pace on the greens from there and it paid off.”
Vani is back from her sojourn to Asia and Europe. Playing in just her third event this season, the Delhi golfer put aside an early blip to clinch second place. Vani started the week with a 73, but corrected course posting 69 in both the second and third rounds for an overall score of five under 211.
Neha Tripathi had to content herself with a tie for third in the company of Gaurika Bishnoi. The latter has been one of the most consistent golfers in recent times and a good run this week underlines her promise for the future.
Neha was under par on the first two days and fell just a couple of birdies short at the end. One of the fittest golfers on the circuit, Neha was set back by untimely bogeys at the 13th and 14th as she was riding her horse to the celebratory pond on Friday.
Gaurika joined her in third place with a composed 70, her second this week. She was in cruise control through the 14th, arriving at the tee box at 4-under for the day, with only five to play. But she conceded bogeys at the 14th and 17th to surrender ground.
Tvesa Malik was among a troika of leaders on Wednesday, but scores of 74 and 73 dropped her into fifth place. Afshan Fatima did well with a 70 in the second round, but a 75 today pushed her down into sixth place.
Seher Atwal started the week in a blaze, but the amateur slid down the order since then. She finished in seventh place at six over 222, two ahead of Suchitra Ramesh.
Sonam Chugh was consistent through the week, but scores of 75 each day was only good enough for a ninth place finish. Trisha Sunil and Gursimar Badwal rounded off the top ten at Clover Greens.
