LPGA – Symetra Tour: Aditi Ashok and Simi Mehra retain hopes of a Stage II spot

Aditi Ashok and Simi Mehra kept their hopes alive for a finish inside the top 90 of the LPGA & Symetra Tour Qualifying School Stage I event in Rancho Mirage, California

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Aditi Ashok and Simi Mehra kept their hopes alive for a finish inside the top 90 of the LPGA & Symetra Tour Qualifying School Stage I event in Rancho Mirage, California

Anand Datla

August 27, 2016: There are new aspirations for golf in India. The presence of three of our best ladies on the Symetra Tour this week is a reminder of the constantly rising bar for the game. Simi Mehra, Sharmila Nicollet and Aditi Ashok are all on the LPGA & Symetra Tour Qualifying School – Stage I competition in Rancho Mirage, California.

Admittedly, the women have endured a difficult two days, but life is collection of experiences and the three ladies will be wiser for their efforts this week. Aditi (2-over 146) and Simi (1-over 145) are in contention to progress through to the second stage at the halfway stage of the q-school tournament.

After a rousing start to her Olympic campaign, Aditi was on the West Coast with her energies at a high. Aditi briefly shared the lead in Rio and remained firmly inside the top ten through the first two rounds, where she made a pair of 68s.

Simi has been the flag bearer of golf in India for several decades now, her discipline and work ethic carved into her toned calf muscles. Sharmila has proven time and again that beauty and brawn can combine effectively on a golf course with her heroics in India and Europe.

Sarah Schmelzel scored 67 each in the first two rounds to take a firm grip at the top of the leaderboard. The American enjoys a three shot cushion over compatriot Savannah Vilaubi and amateur Daniela Darquea.

Our own golfers are lower down the order – Simi is eleven shots off the pace, tied in 62nd spot after two rounds. She followed up a 73 in the first round with an even 72 in the second to gain 16 spots to T62 with an overall score of 1-over 145.

The tournament is being played alternatively on the Gary Player and Dinah Shore courses. Simi played her first round on the Dinah Shore, before keeping it even with the Gary Player course on Friday. Aditi has taken it on in the reverse order.

Playing Dinah Shore on Friday, Aditi needed a good under par round to push herself up the order. Starting the day tied in 68th place, the young golfer from Bengaluru shot three bogeys and a birdie at the par-4 13th hole to account for a 74.

Aditi conceded 15 spots to end the second day in T83. Meanwhile, Sharmila Nicollet shot 73 and 75 dropping outside the top 100 with a 36 hole score of 4-over 148.

The low 90 and ties, currently at 2-over, 146, advance to Stage II after final-round play on Sunday. Simi and Aditi are just inside the marker at this moment, while Sharmila will need to recover on Saturday to nurture any hopes of staying up for the next stage.

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