Gauri finishes on a high note in Women`s Indian Open 2013

New Delhi: India`s rising golfing star Gauri Monga made the Hero Women`s Indian Open 2013 memorable for local fans as she finished a creditable tied fifth at her home course Delhi Golf Club (DGC) here Saturday.

In the benign course conditions at the DGC, the 20-year-old shot a two-under 70 for the second consecutive day to aggregate three-under 143. She finished for a tied fifth place with Ladies European Tour (LET) sensation Charley Hull of England, who shot a 72, and US veteran Beth Allen, who carded day’s best round of six-under 66. In one of the most outstanding performances of her career, Gauri finished her campaign at the Hero Women’s Indian Open 2013 five strokes behind the winner, Thidapa Suwannapura of Thailand. This is the second-best performance by an Indian at the Hero Women’s Indian Open as Meghna Bal and Irina Brar finished tied fourth in the first edition of the tournament in 2007. Among other Indians in the fray, Neha Tripathi, who is the winner of the order of merit on the Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour 2013, shot an even-par 72 to finish as the next best Indian after Gauri in tied 24th position. Veteran Smriti Mehra (73), youngster Vani Kapoor (72) and amateur Gurbani Singh (70) ended tied 34th, with a total of nine-over 223 each. A stroke further behind was amateur Ridhima Dilawari (73) in the 41st position. Hero Moto Corp-sponsored pro Sharmila Nicollet, who is the only Indian to have an LET card, shot a 72 to finish 44th. Gauri, who shot a 73 and 70 on the first two days, started her third and final round on a wrong foot when she missed a putt from four feet to drop a bogey on the third hole.