Thidapa bags top honours at Indian Open

New Delhi: Thailand pro Thidapa Suwannapura maintained outright lead to win her maiden Ladies European Tour (LET) title at the seventh Hero Women’s Indian Open golf tournament at the Delhi Golf Club (DGC) here Saturday.

The 21-year-old Thidapa didn’t lose her concentration and led throughout the day to shoot a bogey-free four-under 68 in the final round for an aggregate of eight-under 208. She scored a three-stroke victory over first-day joint leader Valentine Derrey of France, who ran short of her maiden LET victory after a two-under 70 on Saturday. “It’s an amazing thing to win at the Hero Women’s Indian Open. I didn’t think that I am going to win this tournament since this course is very tough. Even in the beginning of the round, I thought I didn’t have a strong chance. But I concentrated more on my game than other factors and won eventually,” said Thidapa. Thidapa also ensured that the trophy remained in Thailand as last year it was her compatriot Pornanong Phatlum, who won her third Hero Women’s Indian Open title. Another Thai Saraporn Chamchoi made a late charge but a bogey on 16th crushed her title hopes as she finished third with Hannah Burke of England, who shot a fine 68. DGC amateur Gauri Monga entertained the local crowd with her consistent round of two-under 70 to finish tied fifth in the company of US veteran Beth Allen, who shot the day’s best round of six-under 66, and England sensation Charley Hull (70). They ended their campaign five strokes behind the winner Thidapa. Gauri’s finish is India’s second-best performance at the Hero Women’s Indian Open after Meghna Bal and Irina Brar finished tied fourth in the first edition of the tournament in 2007. Thidapa, one of the three Thai golfers to play on the Ladies Professional Golfers Association (LPGA), received challenge from Derrey and Saraporn, but she didn’t let the lead slip away from her hands.