Bengaluru, Jul 16, 2022, IANS

Bengaluru, July 16 (IANS) Pranavi Urs picked four birdies in a span of five holes on the back nine in the final round of the ninth leg of the Women's Pro Golf Tour at the Bangalore Golf Club to win the fourth title of the season and extend her lead at the top of the Order of Merit.

Pranavi shot 2-over 71 with four birdies against six bogeys and totalled 2-over 209, while Seher Atwal (71) with one birdie against two bogeys, aggregated 5-over 212.

The scoring and conditions were tougher this week as none of the players finished with an under-par total and there were only two under-par rounds, one each by Pranavi and Seher in the tournament.

Starting the final round with a three-shot lead at the Par-69 Bangalore Golf Club course, Pranavi overcame an early charge from Seher Atwal over the first 10 holes. As Seher lost momentum, Pranavi came into her own and raced to victory by three shots despite a bogey-bogey finish.

Seher Atwal was 2-over for the front nine, while Pranavi was 3-over. That cut the lead by one. On the tenth, Pranavi bogeyed again, while Seher birdied the hole for a two-shot swing which saw the two-level with eight holes to go. Then between the 12th and 16th Pranavi birdied four times and Seher managed only pars.

As Pranavi bogeyed the last two holes, Seher dropped a shot on the 18th and Pranavi was three ahead, as she was at the start of the day, but by now the trophy and the winner's cheque was also hers.

Pranavi, who feels she is fully fit and ready to go full throttle, won the first, fourth and seventh legs before this week. She was also second in the fifth and eighth legs. In short, she has finished first or second in six of the nine legs held so far.

As Seher Atwal finished second for the second time in succession, Hitaashee Bakshi, winner of the third and sixth legs, was third. Hitaashee carded 72 for a total of 215.

Sneha Singh, winner of the fourth WPGT title as an amateur, finished fourth in her professional debut. She carded the final round's best score of even par 69 and finished with a total of 216.

Oviya Reddi (70) and Gaurika Bishnoi (71) were tied for fifth and Afshan Fatima (73) and Nayanika Sanga (76) were tied seventh. Amateur Jasmine Shekar (72) was ninth as Gauri Karhade (74) and Ananya Datar (76) were tied 10th.

The tenth leg of the WPG Tour will also be held in Bangalore, but at the Prestige Golfshire from July 20-22.