Hitaashee Bakshi claims dominant victory at Golden Greens

Hitaashee Bakshi shot her way to a four stroke victory over her sister Jahanvi Bakshi with a poised 69 in the final round

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Hitaashee Bakshi - WGAI

25 March 2022: Hitaashee Bakshi became the second player to win multiple titles this season as she claimed the sixth leg of the 2022 Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour at the Golden Greens Golf & Resorts Ltd. Following up on her brilliant second round 65, Hitaashee added a solid 3-under 69 to emerge a comfortable winner. Hitaashee’s sister, Jahanvi produced the best round of the final day with a bogey free 6-under 66 that included three successive birdies at the end to claim the runner-up position.

Hitaashee, who also won the third leg of the Tour, aggregated 12-under 204, the lowest winning total this year. Jahanvi was second at 8-under 208. Jahanvi was the top pro in the second leg but was overall second to amateur Sneha Singh.

While the Bakshi sisters finished 1-2, Gaurika Bishnoi, who set the trend for low scoring this week with 65 on the first day, faltered in the final round with a 74 that included three closing bogeys. She was third at 6-under 210, in a tournament where seven players finished under par and another two players were par for the week. That meant the Top-10 were par or better for the week, setting a very good standard.

Hitaashee, who led Gaurika by one shot after two rounds, birdied third and fifth, while Gaurika bogeyed second, birdied fifth but then dropped shots on sixth, seventh and eighth to fall way behind.

On the back nine, Hitaashee birdied 11th, 15th and 17th but dropped shots on 14th and 17th. However, that was more than enough as Gaurika, despite one birdie and no bogeys on the back nine, was unable to make up lost ground. Jahanvi, who was seven shots behind her sister Hitaashee after two rounds, was left four behind despite the 66.

Amateur Heena Kang (70), who finished as best amateur, Ridhima Dilawari (68) and Pranavi Urs (71) were Tied for fourth at 3-under 213. Afshan Fatima (69) was seventh, while Neha Tripathi (73), with an eagle and a double bogey, was eighth.

Shewta Mansingh (71) and Durga Nittur (76) were Tied-ninth at even par 216.

Pranavi Urs continued to stay on top of the Hero Order of Merit but now Hitaashee is less than Rs. 26,000 behind her. Both have played all six events this season and won twice each. Jahanvi Bakshi is third, while Gaurika Bishnoi and Ridhima Dilawari are fourth and fifth.