Vani Kapoor leads Ahmedabad charge

Edited by Anand Datla

Kensville Golf & country club all set to host the season opener

Ahmedabad, 6 January 2014: Following a dream season that included some memorable moments on the course, the Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour is all set for a new beginning in 2015. The state of Gujarat already known for its vibrancy has in the past hosted a few international golf events, but this year it is all set to host its first ever Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour event from the 7th – 9th January. The INR 7,00,000 event will see 11 professional golfers fighting for the top honours at the par 72 Kensville Golf & country club, Ahmedabad. Vani Kapoor leads a strong field in the first event of the new year.

The entry of Gauri Monga and Amangeep Drall, the two new entrants to professional golf, will add further excitement to the events this year and lead to a healthy mix of experience and youth. Chandigarh’s Amandeep Drall is the latest addition to the growing list of professionals in the country and she will mark the beginning of her rookie year with the season opener.

Amandeep who has just turned professional, was ranked third in the country as an amateur golfer according to the IGU Ladies Merit List, made headlines during the Hero Women’s Indian Open’14, carding the only hole-in–one of the tournament. Delhi’s Gauri Monga who turned professional just before the Hero Women’s Indian Open 2014 will skip the first leg at the Kensville Golf & country club.

Delhi’s Vani Kapoor who won six out of 13 events last year with a total earning of INR 12,39,100 as the Hero Order of Merit leader for 2014, would be aiming to continue with her stellar form in 2015. Vani can expect stiff competition from veteran Smriti Mehra who finished second on the Hero OOM 2014 with total earnings of INR 8,29,400.

Kolkata’s Neha Tripathi will be another golfer to watch out for this season, especially after a quiet 2014. Other golfers to look out for are Delhi’s Ankita Tiwana, Pune’s Shweta Galande and Chandigarh golfer Saaniya Sharma. Hero Motocorp sponsored Sharmila Nicollet who missed out on her LET card for the 2015 season will be missing from action in the first leg.