Vani Kapoor begins season with win

Vani Kapoor carried forward her stellar form of 2015 into the New Year, carding a superb three-under 69 in the final round to win the first leg of the Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour at the Kensville Golf and Country Club in Ahmedabad on Thursday.

Overnight leader Kiran Matharu (226) could not sustain her momentum and had to settle for second place at the Rs 7 lakh event.

Vani struggled with the conditions in the last two rounds and started the day in third place. However, she played a blemish-free round, firing three birdies to finish with a total of 223 after 54 holes. In the process, she also carded the only sub-par round of the event.

Kiran had an indifferent start and carded a double bogey on the second hole. Thereafter, she tried to stage a comeback, but her three birdies were neutralised by as many bogies.

Chandigarh’s Saaniya Sharma carded a one-over 73 on the final day to clinch third place. She had two birdies and an equal number of bogies in her front nine. She added two bogies in her back nine along with a lone birdie to finish with 228 after the final round.

Panchkula’s Amandeep Drall and Kapurthala golfer Gursimar Badwal finished tied fourth with scores of 233.

Gursimar had an impressive start and played a blemish free front nine with two birdies. However, dropped shots on the 14th, 16th and 17th holes spoilt her score and she finished with a score of one-over 73.

Kolkata’s Smriti Mehra and Delhi’s Mehar Atwal finished tied sixth on 237. They were followed by Delhi’s Ankita Tiwana and Pune’s Shweta Galande who were placed eighth and ninth respectively.

The tour now moves to Kalhaar Blues and Greens, Ahmedabad, for the second leg to be played from January 11 to 14.