Pranavi makes a winning debut, Amandeep 2nd
Chandigarh, February 14
Young Pranavi Urs made a winning start to her professional career as she notched up a one-shot victory over Amandeep Drall in the third leg of the Women’s Pro Golf Tour at the TNGF Cosmo Golf course in Chennai today.
It was a second successive win for Pranavi, who had emerged victorious in the second leg of the tournament, albeit as an amateur, last month in Mumbai. The 16-year-old from Mysore had won another one in 2018 as an amateur.
Pranavi carded a 2-over 74 in the final round to end with a total of 223, one shot ahead of Panchkula’s Amandeep (77).
Pranavi, who had lost this season’s first leg with a triple bogey on the closing hole, came to the 18th hole with a 2-shot lead, despite having two bogeys and a birdie in her previous three holes.
Pranavi shot 2-under 35 for the front-nine, but dropped bogeys on 10th, 15th and 16th. She also had a double bogey on the 18th. The birdie in between on the par-3 17th saved the day for the youngster.
Amandeep, two ahead of Pranavi at the start, was even for the front-nine and level with Pranavi at the turn.
On the back-nine, Amandeep was unable to find any birdies and dropped shots on the 10th, 11th, 16th, 17th and 18th. Even a par on any of the last three would have got her into a play-off as she ended one short of Pranavi.
Oviya Reddi had a tough final day with three double bogeys and three other bogeys against three birdies.
Chandigarh’s Saaniya Sharma (71) showed that good course management would pay as she carded the day’s only sub-par score. It was also the second best of the week after Pranavi’s second round 69. Saaniya shared the third spot with Oviya, for whom this was the best finish as a pro.
Vani Kapoor (74) finished 5th, while Siddhi Kapoor (72), amateur Sneha Singh (74), Neha Tripathi (76) and Afshan Fatima (78) were all tied for 6th. Ananya Datar, who slipped in the final round with a 78 and finished tied-10th, is on top of the Order of Merit, while Afshan Fatima, who also shot a 78 today is second and Amandeep is third. — TNS/PTI
