Look Out: Rookie Aditi Ashok posts career-best finish as pro, finishes sixth

Marbella, Spain: Aditi Ashok registered her career-best sixth place finish on the Ladies European Tour as she rounded off the week with an impressive back-nine, which saw her end the Andalucia Costa Del Sol Open de Espana Femenino with a card of three-under 69 here on Sunday.

Aditi, 18, playing her first season as a professional, bounced back from a first round 74 to bring in cards of 67, 75 and 69.

She bettered her previous best as a pro, which was tied-9th earlier this month in Germany and her career-best of tied 8th in Hero Indian Open 2012, when she was a 14-year-old amateur.

"Sure, I am pleased with the performance," said Aditi at the end of the week. "Overall I felt I didn't play the front nine very well, as I dropped a few shots every day, but in the end it was a good week. I played well in Germany and now here, so I am looking forward to next event."

Today, Aditi, who was tied-8th after the second round, opened with a bogey but got that shot back with a birdie on par-4 sixth. However, another bogey on ninth meant she turned in over par for the front nine for the third time in four days. But she made up superbly on back nine.

She birdied three times in four holes, on the 10th, 12th and 13th and then added a fourth one on par-5 16th. She almost had an eagle on 16th, as the ball caught the edge on her third shot and stopped inches away for a birdie.

Talking of her season and the gradual improvement, Aditi said: "My scoring has improved over the season. Now that the LET season is in full swing, the more I play, my game gets better. First time as pro, it is different, although the game is the same. My long game has got better as the season has progressed. I got a new set at the start of the year and I got used to it in the off season.

"There were just 5-6 events till June-July and now in 2-3 weeks, I have played almost three tournaments. Rio (Olympic golf) was there, it was good, I was in top-10 after first two days. That gave me a lot of confidence. Now two Top-10s. A lot of positives, I would say. Now the season is more packed."

Aditi will next play in Lacoste Ladies Open de France, which is a limited field event.

Meanwhile, local talent Azahara Munoz (70) overcame a strong challenge from American Beth Allen (72) to become the first Spaniard to win her home Open.

Munoz, who started the day one shot behind, fell two behind as Allen opened with a birdie. But the American faltered on the back nine with three bogeys, while Munoz held her nerve and won by a shot. Munoz totaled 10-under to Allen's nine-under.

Sophie Walker (71) and Georgia Hall (68) were tied third and Florentyna Parker (67) was fifth.