Smriti takes fourth leg title

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Smriti Mehra

Smriti Mehra brought in all her experience to overhaul youngster Nalini Singh Siwach and win the fourth leg of the Hero-WGAI women’s pro tour in Srinagar on Thursday.

Smriti shot a second successive two-under 70 to finish with a total of 214 against Nalini’s 218 following a final round of 75. With the win, Smriti also sealed her second title of the season. She had earlier won the second leg in Bengaluru. Sharmila Nicollet won the first leg, while rookie Vani Kapoor prevailed in the third.
Saaniya Sharma (73) finished third 224, while Shraddhanjali Singh (71) was fourth at 225.
Vani (76), who recently turned pro, was fifth at 226 and Neha Tripathi (78) signed off at the sixth place at 227.
Nalini, leading by one shot overnight, failed to find any birdies through the round. She bogeyed the third and fourth and fell behind.
When Smriti birdied the fifth and then the eighth, Nalini was virtually out of the race.
Smriti, however, bogeyed the 10th but Nalini too fell short on the 17th. Smriti then ended the tournament in style, sinking a par-4 birdie putt on the 18th.
Nalini was unable to hole her putts and had three bogeys.
Saaniya had two bogeys and a birdie en route to her 73.
Ankita Tiwana (75) and Meghna Bal (77) were tied for the seventh at 232.
This was the first women’s professional event at the picturesque Royal Springs Golf Course in Srinagar, and elicited good response.
The Hero-WGAI Tour now shifts to the National Capital Region with four events, the first commening at the DLF Golf and Country Club on September 19.