Gaurika, who was tied third after the second round and two shots behind the leader at the start of the day, shot a total of 1-under 209 as overnight leader Khushi Khanijau (71) came under pressure at the end . Khushi bogeyed the 16th and 17th holes and carded 2-over 212 to finish runner-up, three shots behind.
It was Gaurika's first win of the 2024 season. He got two wins in 2023.
Amateur Mannat Brar had six birdies in a brilliant final round of 3-under 67, including four on the back nine and three bogeys overall.This took her score to 4-over 214 and she finished joint third. Vidyatri Urs, who had led on the first day in her first round as a professional player, shot 71 on the third day and was joint third with Mannat at 4-over 214.
Gaurika, who had happily started the final day two shots behind, was still two shots behind with three holes remaining. At the end of the front nine Khushi looked the likely winner as she extended her overnight lead from two to four shots. Gaurika turned in even par, while Khushi was 2-under with birdies on the seventh and ninth.Then things started changing. Khushi's bogey on the 11th hole and Gaurika's birdie on the 15th hole reduced the gap from four to two. Then came a big upheaval. Gaurika's experience proved crucial as she birdied the 16th and 17th holes, while Khushi bogeyed the 16th and 17th. That four-shot swing in Gaurika's favor with just two holes to go changed the course of the story.
Gaurika was now two ahead from two behind. She added another birdie and Khushi was almost at par and finished runner-up.Jasmine Shekhar, looking for her first win, started the first day lagging behind round two leader Khushi. However, Jasmine, who had been runner-up several times, once again faced disappointment. Jasmine was 1-under on the front nine, but a bogey on the par-3 14th was followed by a series of three bogeys from the 16th to the 18th. She carded 73 and finished fifth at 5-over 215.
Aastha Madan (73) finished sixth while amateur Saanvi Somu (70), one of only three cards of par or better on the final day, finished seventh.Shweta Mansingh (72), Ananya Garg (73), Riya Purvi Saravanan (74), Amandeep Dral (74), and new professional Anvita Narendra (75) tied for eighth place at 11-over 221.
Last year's Hero Order of Merit winner Sneha Singh was tied 13th after a final round of 74.
In the Hero Order of Merit, Hitashi Bakshi remains on top despite not teeing up this week as he is playing in Singapore, while Amandeep Dral is now second and Khushi Khanijau is third. Sneha Singh and Jasmine Shekhar are placed fourth and fifth respectively, while Gaurika, who has played only three of the seven events held so far, is placed sixth.
The next event, which is the eighth stage of the Tour, will be held at the Bangalore Golf Club and will take place from June 18 to 20 with a practice round on June 17.
It was Gaurika's first win of the 2024 season. He got two wins in 2023.
Amateur Mannat Brar had six birdies in a brilliant final round of 3-under 67, including four on the back nine and three bogeys overall.This took her score to 4-over 214 and she finished joint third. Vidyatri Urs, who had led on the first day in her first round as a professional player, shot 71 on the third day and was joint third with Mannat at 4-over 214.
Gaurika, who had happily started the final day two shots behind, was still two shots behind with three holes remaining. At the end of the front nine Khushi looked the likely winner as she extended her overnight lead from two to four shots. Gaurika turned in even par, while Khushi was 2-under with birdies on the seventh and ninth.Then things started changing. Khushi's bogey on the 11th hole and Gaurika's birdie on the 15th hole reduced the gap from four to two. Then came a big upheaval. Gaurika's experience proved crucial as she birdied the 16th and 17th holes, while Khushi bogeyed the 16th and 17th. That four-shot swing in Gaurika's favor with just two holes to go changed the course of the story.
Gaurika was now two ahead from two behind. She added another birdie and Khushi was almost at par and finished runner-up.Jasmine Shekhar, looking for her first win, started the first day lagging behind round two leader Khushi. However, Jasmine, who had been runner-up several times, once again faced disappointment. Jasmine was 1-under on the front nine, but a bogey on the par-3 14th was followed by a series of three bogeys from the 16th to the 18th. She carded 73 and finished fifth at 5-over 215.
Aastha Madan (73) finished sixth while amateur Saanvi Somu (70), one of only three cards of par or better on the final day, finished seventh.Shweta Mansingh (72), Ananya Garg (73), Riya Purvi Saravanan (74), Amandeep Dral (74), and new professional Anvita Narendra (75) tied for eighth place at 11-over 221.
Last year's Hero Order of Merit winner Sneha Singh was tied 13th after a final round of 74.
In the Hero Order of Merit, Hitashi Bakshi remains on top despite not teeing up this week as he is playing in Singapore, while Amandeep Dral is now second and Khushi Khanijau is third. Sneha Singh and Jasmine Shekhar are placed fourth and fifth respectively, while Gaurika, who has played only three of the seven events held so far, is placed sixth.
The next event, which is the eighth stage of the Tour, will be held at the Bangalore Golf Club and will take place from June 18 to 20 with a practice round on June 17.
