Vani Kapoor wins in Bengaluru

Bengaluru, September 26, 2014: The final day of the 12th Leg of the Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour 2014 saw a remarkable display by two young guns of Indian women’s golf. Vani Kapoor, who was placed fourth at the end of the second round, was a treat to watch as she rallied her way to the top. She played a perfect round today, without conceding a single bogey as she beat overnight leader Shweta Galande in a playoff. It was heartbreak for Shweta who has played exceedingly well in this leg and was the only player to return with under par scores in all three rounds. It was a fascinating day’s play at the picturesque Prestige Golfshire in Bengaluru.

Vani had an uphill task as she was trailing Shweta by three strokes at the start of play. She started cautiously and didn’t have a single birdie in the front nine. Shweta also played watchfully and had one birdie and a bogey in the front nine. At the end of the front nine, Shweta still led Vani by three strokes and looked on course to win her first title of the season. However, Vani had other thoughts and with nothing to lose she displayed some incredible golf in the back nine, sinking five birdies. Vani returned with a final round score of five under 67 and Shweta had a final round score of three under 69. Both were tied with identical final scores of 211 at the end of the third round. The game was then decided in a play off on the 18th hole, in which Vani prevailed and won her sixth title of the season. Shweta had to be content with another runner up finish.

The two youngsters were simply brilliant and on a day where all the other golfers struggled, they showcased some sublime golf. Vani carded a total of five birdies on the 10th, 12th, 13th, 16th and 17th holes. Shweta also carded five birdies on the seventh, 12th, 15th, 16th and 18th holes but also conceded two bogeys on the first and 10th holes, which perhaps was her undoing.

Neha Tripathi finished third with a round three score of one over 73 and a total of 216 and local girl Sharmila Nicollet finished fourth in her comeback game. Sharmila returned with a final round score of five over 77 and a total of 220.

Ankita Tiwana with a final round score of 74 and a total of 222 finished fifth, whereas Saaniya Sharma took the sixth place with a round three score of 77 and a total of 223.

The tour now moves to the NCR for the 13th leg in the last week of October. The Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour 2014 comprises a total of fifteen legs spanning across key locations in India.