Sharmila Nicollet cruises to first title of the season

Mumbai: Bangalore golfer Sharmila Nicollet registered her first victory of the season in the fourth leg of the Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour at the Bombay Presidency Golf Club (BPGC) here Thursday. With a five stroke advantage over Delhi golfer Vani Kapoor, overnight leader Sharmila continued her good run of form on the final day to clinch her first title of the season. [caption id=“attachment_1411451” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Sharmila Nicollet won by seven shots. AFP[/caption] Sharmila showed great temperament to dominate the fourth leg carding two under par scores in the second and final rounds, the only player to do so. She returned with an impressive one under 69 on the final day and a total of 208 to take the title. She carded five birdies on the fifth, seventh, 11th, 16th and 18th holes as opposed to a bogey on the 12th and a double bogey on the 14th hole. Vani played another steady round to finish second with a final round score of one over 71 and a total of 215. She carded four birdies on the second, fifth, 13th and 16th holes and had five bogeys on the third, fourth, seventh, eighth and 10th holes. Saaniya, with a final round score of four over 74 and a total of 220, finished third. Kolkata golfer Neha Tripathi was tied fourth with Ankita Tiwana with identical total scores of 221 over three rounds. Veteran golfer, Smriti Mehra finished sixth with a final round score of four over 74 and a total of 223. The Rs.5,00,000 event was the fourth in the series of 14 this year. IANS