July 11, 2017: Tvesa Malik, who won a title on her maiden start as a professional last week, and the latest Hero Order of Merit leader, Gaurika Bishnoi, will have to contend with the return of Amandeep Drall, Vani Kapoor and Neha Tripathi this week in the eighth leg of the Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour.
Amandeep, Vani and Neha played the Ladies European Thailand Championship last week and skipped the domestic event. That enabled Gaurika to overtake Amandeep on the Money List.
One of the features of the Hero WPGT this year has been the number of players who have won tournaments. Five different players have won the seven legs held so far, with only Amandeep and Vani winning twice. That underlines the competitiveness on the Tour, which has been growing with the coming in one new girls into the professional fold.
In the recent months, three talented amateurs turned professionals. While Suchitra Ramesh turned professional in April, Tvesa and Millie Saroha shifted ranks only last month and Tvesa tasted success in her first venture as a professional.
While the newcomers are trying to make a place for themselves on the Hero WPGT, two highly successful players in recent years have yet to win this season. Smriti Mehra who has won 33 titles in nine years of the Tour, had a best of second place in the second leg at Ahmedabad, while Sharmila Nicollet, grappling with injuries and indifferent form, has had a best of Tied-third in fourth leg at Kolkata.
Amandeep Drall has never finished outside top with two wins and finished second three times in five starts this season. Vani Kapoor has won twice and once finished third in three starts. So those would be the ones to look out for at Clover Greens this week.
Vani Kapoor, Gaurika Bishnoi and Smriti Mehra go out in the last group in the first round, while last week’s winner, Tvesa Malik will play alongside Mehar Atwal and Sonam Chugh. Newcomer Suchitra has been paired with Sharmila Nicollet in a two-ball, while Mehar’s sister, amateur Sehar has been paired with another amateur Ankita Kedlaya.
Amandeep Drall (Rs. 5,88,000), who was overtaken last week is only Rs. 25,900 behind Gaurika (Rs. 6,13,900) and will therefore look at gaining the top spot once again.
WGAI Tour Release
