Vani Kapoor seeking a hat-trick

Edited by Anand Datla

February 24, 2015: After consecutive victories in the last two events, Vani Kapoor will look for a hat trick at the Hero-Oxford Women’s Pro Golf Championship. Vani currently leads the Hero Order of Merit with total earnings of INR 5,84,000 and will start as firm favourite at the Oxford Golf & Country Club, Pune. The INR 6,00,000 event will see 16 professional golfers fighting it out for the top honors and will culminate on 27th February.

The Delhi youngster is in red hot form with three victories and one runner up finish in five appearances this season. However, she is expected to face tough competition from rookie Amandeep Drall, Bengaluru’s Sharmila Nicollet and English golfer Kiran Matharu. Panchkula’s Amandeep Drall has been impressive this season and is placed second in the Hero Order of Merit with total earnings of INR 3,88,000. She will be eyeing her maiden victory and would like to reduce the gap at the top of the table. Hero Motocorp sponsored Sharmila Nicollet has been inconsistent this season and would be eager to make amends. Kiran Matharu has already tasted victory in her maiden appearance and would like to add another title to her tally.

Local golfer Shweta Galande will be playing in front of her home fans and would be eager to make an impact at the event. She hasn’t been in the best of form and would be eyeing a turn around. Kolkata’s Neha Tripathi and veteran Smriti Mehra too have struggled this season and will press for their first victory of the season. Other golfers to watch out for are Chandigarh’s Saaniya Sharma, Delhi’s Gauri Monga and Mehar Atwal, playing her first event as a professional.