Ladies on the Link
GURSIMAR BADWAL CRUISES A
COMFORTABLE FIVE-SHOT WIN IN
SECOND LEG OF HERO WPG TOUR
ursimar Badwal gave her rivals
absolutely no chance from the
word go on the ¿ nal day and
wrapped up her ¿ rst title of
2019 by winning the second
leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour at
the Oxford Golf Resort on 25 January 2019.
Gursimar shot four-under 68 for the second
time in three days to total ¿ ve-under 211 and
win by ¿ ve shots over Amandeep Drall (72),
who ended at even par 216.
When Gursimar birdied the
Par-3 14th, she was sitting on a
six-shot lead and she made no
mistakes in the last four holes.
Amandeep had too much to do in
too few holes and managed only
one more birdie on par-5 16th to
fi nish second.
Tvesa Malik (72) was third at three-over
219, while Neha Tripathi (72), winner of the
¿ rst leg, was fourth at ¿ ve-over 221. Sifat
Alag (77) was ¿ fth. Gursimar, who led by
¿ ve shots after the ¿ rst day, had allowed that
lead to shrink to just one after the second day.
However, on the ¿ nal day on Friday,
she made birdies on the ¿ rst and the third,
even as her playing partner and nearest rival,
Amandeep Drall bogeyed the ¿ rst hole.
Gursimar stayed focused and shot two-under
34 for the front nine, as Amandeep carded
37 to allow the gap to swell from one shot to
four. Tvesa Malik, who was four behind after
36 holes, fell another two behind as she was
even par for the front nine. Gursimar pulled
away even more decisively on the back nine
as she birdied 10th, 11th and 14th, but also
dropped a shot on Par-4 12th.
Once again she had the best back nine
score of two-under 34.
When Gursimar birdied the Par-3 14th,
she was sitting on a six-shot lead and she
made no mistakes in the last four holes.
Amandeep had too much to do in too few
holes and managed only one more birdie on
par-5 16th to ¿ nish second.
Tvesa, who had two birdies on ninth and
10th and bogeys on eighth and 18th was third
and missed some birdie chances. Behind
Neha and Sifat, who ¿ nished fourth and
¿ fth respectively, were Gaurika Bishnoi (75)
at sixth and Ananya Datar (77) at seventh.
Siddhi Kapoor (75), Afshan Fatima (79) and
Millie Saroha (80) were all Tied-8th at 233.
Despite ¿ nishing fourth, Neha stayed on top
of the Hero Order of Merit with winnings of
Rs.2,16,000, followed by Amandeep Drall
who has Rs.1,76,000. Gursimar, winner this
week, trails Amandeep by a mere Rs.1,600,
and at Rs.1,74,400, Afshan Fatima is fourth.
The action now shifts to Ahmedabad, where
the third leg will be played from February 4
to 7 at the Kensville Golf and Country Club,
while the fourth leg will be held at the Kalhaar
Blues and Greens, also in Ahmedabad.
INVITATIONS ACCEPTED TO AUGUSTA
NATIONAL WOMEN’S AMATEUR
nvitations to the Augusta National Women’s Amateur
were sent earlier this month and responses continue
to be accepted. To date, 66 of 72 players have been
confirmed for the inaugural event taking place April
3-6. “Receiving an invitation to the Augusta National
Women’s Amateur is representative of a remarkable amateur
career, and so much more,” said Fred Ridley, Chairman of Augusta
National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament. “We share in the
excitement of the players, not only for what will unfold in April,
but also for what their involvement will mean to increasing interest
52 G o l f P l u s
FEBRUARY
2019
in the women’s game.” Gathering the week before the Masters
Tournament in April, the international field will compete over 54
holes of stroke play, with a cut to 30 players taking place after
36 holes. The first two rounds will take place on the Island and
Bluff nines at Champions Retreat Golf Club Wednesday, April 3
and Thursday, April 4.
The entire field will then play Augusta National for an official
practice round Friday, April 5. The final round will take place
at Augusta National on Saturday, April 6 and will feature the
competitors who made the cut.