Sandhu ends T-22 and Sharma finishes T-27 in Dutch Open
Cromvoirt, The Netherlands, Sept 20: Ajeetesh Sandhu was unable to produce the kind of a solid round he had done on the first three days as he finished with an even par 72 in the final round at the 2021 Dutch Open. Sandhu was T-22, seven places below his T-15 after the third round.
Also, Shubhankar Sharma, who began the week superbly with 70-66 faltered over the weekend with 74-70 and finished T-27th. SSP Chawrasia who had an up-and-down week with a 67 on second day followed by 82 on third ended the week just as the way he started with a 75 and was 77th.
Kristoffer Broberg ended a six-year drought as he claimed an emotional victory at the Dutch Open. The Swede won by three strokes after holding his nerve down the final stretch.
For Sandhu, who had 69s on first three days, the bogeys on 15-16 ended his hopes of a Top-15. Sharma, meanwhile trying to stop dropping bogeys as he did in round three, played a bogey free 70 with just two birdies.
Broberg, 35, said he went through “six years of hell” before battling his way back to triumph at Bernardus Golf. He won back in 2015 BMW Masters after a play-off with Patrick Reed.
Another fine finish by Tvesa Malik at Open de France
Bordeaux, Kristianstad, France, Sep 19: Tvesa Malik registered yet another superb result as she finished T-12 with a final round of 1-under 70 at the 2021 Lacoste Ladies Open de France. She finished with rounds of 69-70-70 for 4-under 208 as Celine Boutier emerged champion after securing victory in the most dramatic of fashions at Golf Club du Medoc.
Tvesa, who has been knocking on the doors of a maiden triumph and finished runner-up at Gant Ladies Open in July, Last week she was T-11 at Swiss Ladies Open and this season she has had three Top-10s.
The Hero supported golfer had three birdies from eighth to 10th and two bogeys on fourth and 12th. After a week’s break Tvesa will be back for Estrella Damm Championship in Spain.
The two-time Solheim Cup winner Boutier kept her nerve on a frantic final day in Bordeaux, before sinking a fantastic birdie putt on the last to take victory by a single shot ahead of Scotland’s Kylie Henry.
Gaurika T-6 and Ridhima is T-9 in Lavaux Ladies Open in Switzerland
Puidox, Switzerland, Sept 18: Gaurika Bishnoi, who got back into action after a long time, has begun to find her feet in Europe. Gaurika, a five-time winner on the domestic circuit, logged her best international result in a long time with Tied-6th finish at the Lavaux Ladies Open on the LET Access Series.
Gaurika with cards of 71-72-69 finished 4-under and tied for sixth, while Ridhima Dilawari, another one trying to get back to her best, was Tied-9th with rounds of 74-69-70.
While the money they earned may not even have been enough to cover their expenses, the confidence generated by finishing in Top-10 will do them a lot of good.
T22
Amandeep Drall (73-73-72), who was T-4 at Flumserberg Open on LET Access Series a fortnight ago finished T-22 alongside Pranavi Urs (71-74-73) who is making her big venture into Europe. Vani Kapoor hoping to come out of her rusty form due to long break due to the pandemic (75-74-72) was T-33.
Gaurika, who was rather successful on the domestic circuit till 2019 was like many others left stranded without any events to play during the pandemic. She is now getting back into the groove and a few invites into the Ladies European Tour will also help.
Scotland’s Gabrielle Macdonald prevailed in a playoff at the Lavaux Ladies Open to secure her second LET Access Series title in 2021. The 28-year-old began the day in a tie for fifth place on -4 and produced a round of 69 to finish the tournament of seven-under-par. She birdied 18th to get into a play-off with England’s Gemma Clews (68) who she beat with a par on the playoff hole. It was her second playoff victory in the space of four events.
Aditi ends week at 73rd place in Portland
Portland, Oregon, Sept 20: Aditi Ashok ended a disappointing week with a 6-over 78 that saw her finish the week in 73rd position at the 2021 Cambia Portland Classic.
Playing her first event in the US since mid-July and since the Olympic Games, Aditi shot 77-72-78. She will now look to shake off this rust and get back to the form in the last leg of the LPGA season from here on.
Meanwhile, Rolex Rankings No. 2 Jin Young Ko, starting for the first time in six weeks, dominated the field at the 2021 Cambia Portland Classic. She carded a bogey-free 69 in the third round, which was also the final round in the event shortened due to rain. She won by four strokes over Jeongeun Lee and Su Oh.
Homa wins Fortinet Champs on PGA, Matsuyama sixth
Napa, California, Sept 20: American Max Homa claimed a one-stroke victory at the Fortinet Championship, with a closing 65 for his third career win ahead of Maverick McNealy.
Homa, who used to run a popular and funny golf podcast had off late given it up to focus on the game and the win is a just reward for that. Homa holed out from the rough from 95 yards for eagle on the par-4 12th to start a back-nine comeback and added three birdies for a 7-under 65.
Three strokes behind Maverick McNealy with seven holes left, Homa followed the eagle with a birdie on the par-4 13th. The 30-year-old tapped in for another birdie on the par-5 16th and ran in an 18-footer on the par-4 17th. He parred the par-5 18th to finish at 19-under 269.
McNealy shot a 68 to finish second. He birdied the 16th, then made a double bogey on 17 and an eagle on 18.
Mito Pereira (68) was third at 16 under. Marc Leishman (65) and Talor Gooch (68) followed at 15 under. Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama (66) tied for sixth at 13 under. PGA Championship winner Phil Mickelson (75) was 7 under.
Jim Knous (74) began the day tied for the lead with McNealy, but could never find his rhythm and finished at 12 under and was T-11.
The best finish by an Asian this week was Hideki Matsuyama, who was Tied-sixth.
Matsuyama leads Asian show
The 29-year-old Hideki Matsuyama finished sixth and was delighted with his strong performance to the new 2021-22 season as he looks to add on to his six wins on TOUR. He made easy birdies on Hole Nos. 5, 12, 16 and 17 from close range, thanks to some magnificent ball striking.
After two days of being bogey-free, the slightly built Pan dropped three shots in the final round but six birdies on the card helped him enjoy his best finish in four appearances at Silverado with his equal sixth placing.
Korea’s Si Woo Kim birdied his closing three holes for a 70 to finish tied 11th.
Homa won for the second time this year and the third time on the PGA TOUR. He won at Riviera in Los Angeles in February.
Rahil Gangjee misses cut ion Japan
Rahil Gangjee (76-74) missed the cut at ANA Championship, while Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe (72-63-69-66) won the title.
Honey Baisoya ends 3-year title-drought at J&K Open 2021
Srinagar: Delhi’s Honey Baisoya ended a three-year title-drought with his determined display at the J&K Open 2021 at the Royal Springs Golf Course in Srinagar.
The six-time PGTI winner Baisoya (67-69-66-68), who was struggling for form through the season, totaled 18-under 270 for the week following his classy final round of four-under 68 to win by four shots. Honey moved from 85th to 22nd place in the PGTI Order of Merit.
Gurugram-based Veer Ahlawat (67-71-70-66) also made his presence felt in the last round with a score of 66 to finish second at 14-under 274 at the Rs. 40 lakh event.
Patna’s Aman Raj (68-71-70-66) too shot a 66 on day four to take third place at 13-under 275.
Honey Baisoya, the overnight leader by four shots, had a nervy start to the day as he made some tough par putts from five to six feet on the first six holes even as the likes of Angad Cheema and Kartik Sharma were piling on the pressure on the leader with early birdies.
Chandigarh’s Lakhmehar wins maiden Hero WPG Tour title
NOIDA, Sept 17: Lakhmehar Pardesi gave herself an early birthday present as she claimed a breakthrough maiden title in the 9th leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour at the Noida Golf Course. The Chandigarh golfer, who turns 22 on October 15, stayed calm in the closing stages after trailing for most part of the final day.
Needing a clutch putt from around eight feet to ensure an outright win over Jahanvi Bakshi, Lakhmehar drained the putt and heaved a sigh of relief. Her previous best on the Tour was a fifth place and she said, “This is a big win for me.”
Lakhmehar carded 2-over 74 in the final round to total 227, while Jahanvi (75) was one behind at 228.
Amateur Avani Prashanth, who has regularly figured in contention, was once again the top amateur and was overall third at 230. Avani had the best round of the day at even par 72.
Avani shared the third spot with Hitaashee Bakshi (76). For Avani, this was the sixth top amateur prize in 12 starts on the Hero WPG Tour. Of the six times, she was once the overall winner.
