Teen golf sensation Aditi Ashok scripted history on Sunday as she became the first Indian woman to win a ladies European Tour title by clinching the Hero Women's Indian Open here.
The 18-year-old Olympian carded an even par 72 on the final day at the DlF Golf and Country Club. On a day that saw leads shift hands on multiple occasions, Aditi held her nerve to get the better of American Brittany lincicome and Spain's Belen Mozo. Brittany and Belen finished tied second with identical totals of two-under 214 after 54 holes, one adrift of the winner.
Aditi finished with a total score three-under 213 to win a prize purse of $60,000, propelling her to the top spot in the Rookie of the Year rankings.
"I have had some good finishes in the Indian Open but to get the job done finally feels really good and especially finishing victorious in front of my home crowd is a really good feeling," she said.
Aditi has had a good year on the ladies European Tour (lET) but could not win a title.
Aditi had a two shot lead coming into the final round. She played an even-par front-nine and looked well on course to claim her maiden title on the ladies European Tour.
However, Belen Mozo continued to apply pressure and carded two birdies while dropping a single shot on her front nine. Brittany, who has two major titles to her credit, too had a good day and finished with a total of two-under 214 to give herself a realistic chance of winning the title.
With just two holes to play, both Aditi and Belen bogeyed the 17th hole to tie with Brittany for the top spot.
On the decisive 18th hole, Aditi hit an incredible approach shot which landed and rolled back to stop one and a half feet from the pin.
Chawrasia wins
Manila: Indian golfer SSP Chawrasia lifted his first Asian Tour title outside the country after prevailing at the second play-off hole to win the $1 million Resorts World Manila Masters on Sunday.
Victory at the richest golf tournament in the Philippines was the first for the 38-year-old outside India and it was one to remember after he birdied the 18th play-off hole twice to clinch victory over Sam Chien of the United States and Malaysia's Nicholas Fung.