Smriti rallies to beat
Sharmila and Nalini in 12th leg of Hero Women’s Pro Tour
NOIDA, March 1: Veteran Smriti Mehra gave her younger
rivals Sharmila Nicollet and Nalini Singh lesson in patience and grit as she came from behind to win her fourth
title of the season at the 12th leg of the Hero Women’s Pro
Golf
tournament at Jaypee Greens. It was an exciting and tense finish.
Despite a late charge by Sharmila with a birdie and two pars in last
three holes, Smriti held on with a birdie and three pars on last four
holes to grab the title.
Smriti,
starting the final day four behind leader Nalini Singh Siwach and three behind
Sharmila Nicollet, made a sedate start with two pars and then had three birdies
in next five holes to make it three-under at the seventh. Sharmila meanwhile started
with an eagle-2 on first and had a bogey on sixth and birdie on seventh.
What
opened the door for Smriti was Sharmila’s triple bogey on ninth. Smriti had
three more birdies against two bogeys on back nine to end the day at 69 and a
total of three-under 213. Sharmila, who had three birdies and an eagle against
three bogeys and a triple bogey finished at 73 and two-under 214, losing the
title by one shot. Sharmila's bogeys on 13th and 15th cost her dearly.
Nalini
had an off-day as she went for five-over 77 and ended at one-over 217.
Mika
Ikemura of Japan carded 76 and was fourth at 223, while Meghna Bal (74) was fifth
at 229. Saaniya Sharma carded an even par 72 but finished at sixth place with
230.
Smriti
Mehra extends her lead at the top of the Order of Merit with three more legs to
go. She has now won four titles, the most by any this season and is now firmly
on way to winning the Money title away from last year’s champion Sharmila.
The
12th leg of the Hero Women’s Tour was the first event at Jaypee
Greens this season. The next event on the Tour will be the BT Pro-AM of
Champions.
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