Vani picks 2nd title of the season, Smriti, Nalini collapse on final day of Hero-WGAI 7th leg

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New Delhi, October 5: Vani Kapoor kept her calm while the others around her collapsed on the third and final day and she was rewarded with her second title of the season on the Hero-WGAI Women’s Pro Tour on Friday.

Vani, 18, who won her first title on the pro, while still being an amateur last year, won the third leg in Golfshire Prestige, and added the second title in the seventh at the Delhi Golf Club on Friday. She carded a one-over 73 to finish the week at seven-over 223, four shots clear of Nalini Singh Siwach (79), who was also docked a stroke for slow play on the par-5 15^th. In the end, it did not make a difference as Nalini, already four-over for the front nine, carded 79 and finished second at 227.

With her second success Vani becomes the second multiple winner of the season after Smriti who has won three titles. Other winners this year have been Nalini Singh Siwach and Sharmila Nicollet.

Smriti Mehra, who led Nalini by two shots overnight, and Vani by four, simply blew her round with a card of 11-over 83 and dropped to third at 229, where she tied with Saaniya Sharma (73). Smriti was also penalized a stroke for slow play on the par-4 15^th.

Neha Tripathi also had a nightmarish day with a round of 83, including a 10-over 46 on back nine. She seemed fine after the one-over front nine, but then managed only three pars on back nine and dropped 10 shots.

Vani, who is coached Anitya Chand, by  opened with a birdie but double bogeyed the par-4 fourth, but got back to even par with a birdie on ninth. She bogeyed the 12^th and 13^th, but closed the tournament with a birdie on 18^th to win the title.

“I have never managed to win at DGC and I have finished second so many times here, so this win is really special. The DGC course is always a challenge and I am so glad I was able to repeat a win after getting my first as a pro in the early part of the season,” said Vani, who picked up Rs, 1,41,250.

Nalini Singh Siwach had just one birdie on the 12^th, but she also had two bogeys and three doubles in her 79. Smriti had just one birdie on the 17^th and had six bogeys and three doubles in her 83.

Saaniya once had again had a lot of birdies, as many as four, the most by any player in the round. She had two doubles and one bogey as she scored 73, the same as winner, Vani.

Neha Tripathi (83) finished fifth at 234 and Shraddhanjali Singh (82) was sixth at 235.

The next leg, the eighth of the Hero-WGAI Women’s Tour will be held next week at ITC Classic Golf Resort from October 10 to 12.