Boca Rio, Florida, Jan 31:Aditi Ashok got her 2022 season off to a solid start with a T-13 finish at the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio. The fourth-place finisher at the Tokyo Olympic Games, Aditi, who shot 66 on first day closed the week with three birdies against a lone bogey for 2-under 70 that saw her total 4-under 284.
Aditi may well have been inside the Top-10 but for the third round in cold and windy conditions which saw her shoot 76 and drop down the leaderboard.
Aditi, who just got two welcome sponsorships from Hyundai and Radisson, was pleased with her start to the season, as she tweeted, “Nice start to my 2022 season here at Boca Rio at Gainbridge LPGA. Had a lot of fun playing in the Pro-Am with young girls.” Gracious as ever, she also thanked the volunteers and all those involved with the tournament and her supporters.
Lydia Ko, 25, became the first player to reach 17 wins before the age of 25 since Nancy Lopez captured her 17th title in 1979. Lydia (69) held off a strong challenge from Danielle Kang (68) and she later said the birdie on the Par-4 15th tilted the scales for her. The Kiwi star added another birdie on No. 16 before getting up and down out of the greenside bunker on No. 18 to seal the win at 14-under overall.
Kang finished runner-up, a week after winning the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.
Yuka Saso (67) was sole third, two shots back of Ko, while Charley Hull (68) and Celine Boutier (69) shared fourth at 11-under. Lexi Thompson (68) finished in a tie for sixth on 7-under with Brooke Henderson (68), while Nelly Korda shot 2-under 76 to conclude the week in a tie for 20th at -2.
Korda is expected to lose the No. 1 spot in the Rolex Rankings to Jin Young Ko, who is projected to assume the spot for the fourth time of her career despite not competing in Boca Raton.
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