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Amateur Vani wins pro tournament by 10 shots in Hero WPG Tour

Gurgaon, September 30: Vani Kapoor became the second amateur this year to grab a title on the Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour as she claimed one of the biggest wins on the Tour, finishing 10 shots ahead of the top pro, Nalini Singh (Siwach) in the fifth leg of the Hero WPG Tour on Friday.

The 17-year-old Vani, a leading star on Indian Golf Union’s amateur circuit, shot the week’s best round of four-under 68 and totaled seven-under 209, the best total in five events on the Tour so far. It was also the first time that any player had brought in three straight sub-par rounds on the Hero WPG Tour this season. The margin of victory was also the biggest this year.

While Vani won the title professional Nalini took the winner’s cheque. She shot 73 for a total of 219 while Sharmila had the tournament’s second best round of three-under 69 and finished third at 222. Smriti Mehra (73) at 229 was fourth and Neha Tripathi (75) fifth at 231. Saaniya Sharma (78) ended sixth at 239.

“This is easily my best result. I am taking back a lot of positives from here. To be able to shoot such good scores on three days is indeed very encouraging,” said Vani. “Every department of my game worked and I was hitting and putting well. Some of the dropped shots were basically when I missed chip-putts but that happens in golf.”

Vani had a stunning front nine with five birdies and no bogeys as she turned in five-under 31 with birdies on third, fifth, seventh, eighth and ninth. “At that stage everything seemed to be superb,” said Vani. She added a birdie on 11th and when she came to the 13th tee, she was six-under for the day and nine-under for the tournament.

However, missed chip-putts on 13th and 16th cost her two shots and she parred the rest for a great 68.

“The best part was I stayed confident and focused. Even when I dropped a bogeyed I didn’t let it affect me,” added Vani, who became the second amateur after Aditi Ashok to win a pro event this season. “It feels good do well in a field with so many good players.”

Nalini had three birdies in the middle of the round on ninth, 11th and 12th but also dropped four bogeys. But with others pros way behind she topped the professional list for the winner’s cheque.

Sharmila, who has been having a struggle on the greens finally came to terms with it. She had seven birdies, three on front nine and four on back nine, including two on last two holes. She however dropped four bogeys but her 69 gave her the third place.

This concludes the fifth leg of the 15-event Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour.