Blazing Aditi races to sole lead
From Pragya Tiwari Gurgaon, Nov 13, 2016, DHNS
Bengalurean cards 3-under to go ahead
The euphoria surrounding the rise of Aditi Ashok touched a new high on Saturday when the 18-year-old Bengalurean barged into a sole two-stroke lead after two rounds of the Hero Women’s Indian Open.
On a day when the tricky contours of the DLF Golf and Country Club made life difficult for most, Aditi (72, 69) riding on a sensational back-nine, shot the best card of the day to steer clear of the pack. In the process, she became the first Indian on the Ladies European Tour (LET) to grab the lead.
The teenager had a wobbly front nine, which she ended with a double-bogey, for a 38 at the turn. But she quickly snapped out of the setback to sink five of her six birdies on the back-nine where she had floundered in the first round. Chasing her in the final round on Sunday would be overnight co-leader Christine Wolf (70, 73) who shares the second place with defending champion Emily Kristine Pedersen (71, 72), who made impressive recovery in the last few holes, and Spaniard Belen Mozo (73, 70), whose brother, Jesus, caddies for Aditi.
Vani Kapoor (73, 74) emerged the second best Indian, ending the second round at tied 13th position. With the cut being set at 10-over, Amandeep Drall who is tied 51 (79, 74), amateur Diksha Daga, who slipped 20 places to be tied 60 (74, 80), and Gaurika Bishnoi, who is tied (75, 77) tied 44, qualified for the final round.
It is turning out to be splendid year for Aditi, who had turned professional in January. In the 11 tournaments she has participated, including this one, she has missed the cut only twice, and is placed third in the race for the Rookie of the Year award.
On Saturday, Aditi kicked off with a birdie on the second hole, but bogeyed the sixth and then double bogeyed the ninth when she hit her second shot into the lake. She, however, fought back with birdies on 11th, 13th, 15th, 17 and 18th for a back nine total of 31.
“I was really sharp on the back nine,” Aditi said. “It could have been better on the front nine, because I had a double bogey on the ninth with my 50 degree, but I was in the wrong spot off the tee and it’s tough to hit that pin from the rough. I’ve got more comfortable over the week, from all the practice rounds, so I think it’s much better and the greens are softer than last year.” On how she looks at the final round, she said: “I’ve made enough birdies so I’m going to focus on not dropping any shots.”
Wolf needed a birdie on the final hole to be tied at the top, but instead bogeyed. “Anything can happen on this course, anything can happen tomorrow. I’m going to try and have fun,” she said.
Briton Kiran Matharu (71, 73), and first round co-leader Anne-Lise Caudal (70, 74), and Kanphanitnan Muangkhumsakul were three strokes behind while Brittany Lincicome (75, 70) ended the day at the tied eighth place at one–over. However, it is young Aditi who stole hearts with her performance, and for once gave the home crowd an opportunity to hope for an Indian winner.
Scores after 36 holes (Indians unless mentioned): 141: Aditi Ashok (72, 69); 143: Belen Mozo (Esp, 73, 70), Emily Pedersen (Den, 71, 72) Christine Wolf (Aut, 70, 73); 144: Anne-Lise Caudal (70, 74), Kiran Matharu (71, 73), Kanphanitnan Muangkhumsaku (Tha,72, 72); 145: Malene Jorgensen (Den, 72, 73,), Supamas Sangchan (Tha 72, 73), Brittany Lincicome (75, 70).
On a day when the tricky contours of the DLF Golf and Country Club made life difficult for most, Aditi (72, 69) riding on a sensational back-nine, shot the best card of the day to steer clear of the pack. In the process, she became the first Indian on the Ladies European Tour (LET) to grab the lead.
The teenager had a wobbly front nine, which she ended with a double-bogey, for a 38 at the turn. But she quickly snapped out of the setback to sink five of her six birdies on the back-nine where she had floundered in the first round. Chasing her in the final round on Sunday would be overnight co-leader Christine Wolf (70, 73) who shares the second place with defending champion Emily Kristine Pedersen (71, 72), who made impressive recovery in the last few holes, and Spaniard Belen Mozo (73, 70), whose brother, Jesus, caddies for Aditi.
Vani Kapoor (73, 74) emerged the second best Indian, ending the second round at tied 13th position. With the cut being set at 10-over, Amandeep Drall who is tied 51 (79, 74), amateur Diksha Daga, who slipped 20 places to be tied 60 (74, 80), and Gaurika Bishnoi, who is tied (75, 77) tied 44, qualified for the final round.
It is turning out to be splendid year for Aditi, who had turned professional in January. In the 11 tournaments she has participated, including this one, she has missed the cut only twice, and is placed third in the race for the Rookie of the Year award.
On Saturday, Aditi kicked off with a birdie on the second hole, but bogeyed the sixth and then double bogeyed the ninth when she hit her second shot into the lake. She, however, fought back with birdies on 11th, 13th, 15th, 17 and 18th for a back nine total of 31.
“I was really sharp on the back nine,” Aditi said. “It could have been better on the front nine, because I had a double bogey on the ninth with my 50 degree, but I was in the wrong spot off the tee and it’s tough to hit that pin from the rough. I’ve got more comfortable over the week, from all the practice rounds, so I think it’s much better and the greens are softer than last year.” On how she looks at the final round, she said: “I’ve made enough birdies so I’m going to focus on not dropping any shots.”
Wolf needed a birdie on the final hole to be tied at the top, but instead bogeyed. “Anything can happen on this course, anything can happen tomorrow. I’m going to try and have fun,” she said.
Briton Kiran Matharu (71, 73), and first round co-leader Anne-Lise Caudal (70, 74), and Kanphanitnan Muangkhumsakul were three strokes behind while Brittany Lincicome (75, 70) ended the day at the tied eighth place at one–over. However, it is young Aditi who stole hearts with her performance, and for once gave the home crowd an opportunity to hope for an Indian winner.
Scores after 36 holes (Indians unless mentioned): 141: Aditi Ashok (72, 69); 143: Belen Mozo (Esp, 73, 70), Emily Pedersen (Den, 71, 72) Christine Wolf (Aut, 70, 73); 144: Anne-Lise Caudal (70, 74), Kiran Matharu (71, 73), Kanphanitnan Muangkhumsaku (Tha,72, 72); 145: Malene Jorgensen (Den, 72, 73,), Supamas Sangchan (Tha 72, 73), Brittany Lincicome (75, 70).
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