Diksha posts India’s best-ever score at Asia-Pacific Championship
In a highly-competitive tournament where Indians have traditionally struggled, 17-year-old Diksha Dagar returned with the best numbers ever by an Indian golfer at the 40th Queen Sirkit Cup Asia-Pacific Amateur Ladies Golf Championship, which concluded in Thailand on May 11.
Diksha totalled 4-under 212, the lowest score any Indian has recorded in the event’s 40-year history, to finish tied-fifth. Her performance also helped the Indian girls team to finish sixth overall as she, 14-year-old Anika Varma from Noida and 15-year-old Pranavi Urs of Mysuru posted a team total of 2-under at the Thana City Country Club (just 13 strokes adrift of the winners). The Koreans, who have won the event for 20 times, totalled 15-under and emerged victors for the fifth consecutive time.
The tournament saw participation from 14 national teams — Australia, China, Chinese-Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
Diksha has been India’s Number 1 ranked Amateur for the past three years. She won the Singapore Ladies Amateur Open in March and qualified for the Asian Games soon after.
DIKSHA TOTALLED 4-UNDER 212, THE LOWEST SCORE ANY INDIAN
HAS RECORDED IN THE EVENT’S 40-YEAR HISTORY, TO FINISH T-5.
THE INDIAN GIRLS TEAM, COMPRISING DIKSHA, ANIKA VARMA
AND PRANAVI URS, POSTED 2-UNDER TO FINISH SIXTH OVERALL…
The Haryana lass has now set her sights on the continent’s biggest multi-sports event. “My focus in the last three-four years has been the Asian Games. I want to play in the Asiad, and want to do well, so all my energies and preparations have been towards that.”
18-year-old Nepal girl gets a private lesson from Tiger
Pratima Sherpa made it to Jupiter, Florida, where Tiger Woods was scheduled to give a clinic at a private outing held at Medalist Golf Club. Raised in a maintenance shed on a golf course in Nepal, the 18-year-old aspires to become her country’s first female professional golfer.
Having learned that Pratima was coming, Woods met with her prior to the clinic, gave her a lesson on the back of the driving range for about half an hour — she used his clubs — and later introduced her to those in attendance, all donors and sponsors, to what is now known as the TGR Foundation.
“Pratima is simply incredible,” Woods said via email. “I read her story and I was amazed. The chance to meet her and talk to her was inspiring. It was great to witness her journey and to see the happiness she exudes.”
Aditi Ashok notches Top-10 LPGA finishes in successive weeks
Young Indian golfer Aditi Ashok finished tied-sixth at the US$ 1.3 million Volunteers of America LPGA Texas Classic on May 6. The tournament, cut short to 36 holes owing to inclement weather, saw Aditi set the clubhouse target as she carded 5-under 66 in her second and final round to finish at 7-under 135.
This was the 20-year-old’s second top-10 result in as many weeks following her tied-seventh at the US$ 1.5 million LPGA Mediheal Championship on April 29.
The Bengaluru-native has made 8 LPGA appearances thus far in the 2018 season and missed only two cuts (ANA Inspiration and ISPS Handa Women’s Aus Open). She has earned US$139,416 and is currently India’s top-ranked lady golfer (39th on the LPGA Rankings).
Aditi turned pro in 2016 and has already won thrice on the Ladies European Tour (LET) with titles at the 2017 Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open, 2016 Qatar Ladies Open and 2016 Hero Women’s Indian Open.