SINGAPORE: India's Hitashi Bakshi recorded her best international result as she finished third at the USD 100,000 Singapore Ladies Masters golf tournament sanctioned by the China LPGA here on Sunday.
This was the best result by an Indian at the event.
Hitashi shot 1-under 71, his second under par round, and a total of 4-under 212 for 54 holes at Laguna National Golf Resort Club.
Hitashi, who started the final day tied for fifth, showed remarkable composure on a tough final day and finished third at 7-under behind winner 17-year-old Runzhi Pang of China (72). Fellow Chinese Cai Danlin (74) was second at 6-under.It was the first professional win for 17-year-old Runzhi, who started one behind Kai in the final round but finished one ahead to take the title.
He braved the heat, humidity and fatigue to win by one shot after surviving a tense closing stretch where he lost two shots in his last five holes. However, his even-par 72 was enough to seal victory in a week that featured several weather-related interruptions.
Amateur Mehreen Bhatia, making the cut on her first start at a pro event outside India, shot her third consecutive 76 despite briefly carrying the bag herself after her caddy fell ill after the second hole. His mother Ruhi played the role of caddy for the last 14 holes.After completing the second round this morning, the final round, played with a shotgun start to ensure 54 holes, finished in fading light.
Hitashi, who leads the Hero Order of Merit on her home tour, made four top-20s in the eight-week period – three at the Thailand LPGA and one in the Philippines besides a mini-tour event in Thailand. He finished third in Singapore.
In the shotgun start, Hitashi, who had started on the second hole, parred the first four before dropping a shot on the sixth hole, his fifth, when the ball hit the bunker wall and went long. He got a shot back on the next hole, the seventh, with an eight-foot birdie putt."What followed was a string of 10 disappointing pars, but I held my composure before making a putt from under 10 feet on the 18th, my 17th hole," he said.
It was his second birdie of the day and helped him move up to solo third place.
Hitashi said, "I've learned a lot over the past two months and this week was tough with all the obstacles and Laguna is a tough course. I'm proud of the way I handled myself."
“I will fly straight to Bengaluru and play a practice round and a three-day tournament on the Hero WPG Tour from Tuesday."I'm grateful to organizer Lin Yeoh for inviting me to play here. It was a great experience and the course was world class," she said.
“The biggest challenge for me was the second day, when I played 28 holes despite frequent stops. I came to the course at 5.30 in the morning and left at 7.30 in the evening, but thankfully I completed the second round on Saturday itself. " On Saturday, she was 1-under for her remaining 10 holes from the first round and 4-under for the second round, which ended with a 3-putt bogey.With an exhausted but happy mother by his side, Hitashi said, "After 28 holes the day before, the 18 holes on the final day seemed easy despite the pressure."
"It was amazing to make the cut in a pro event, my first outside India. I was hoping for 76-76, better than the first two," said 15-year-old Mehreen, a medalist at the US Kids European and World Championships. But before my mother could take over, my Caddy fell ill.or ssc
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This was the best result by an Indian at the event.
Hitashi shot 1-under 71, his second under par round, and a total of 4-under 212 for 54 holes at Laguna National Golf Resort Club.
Hitashi, who started the final day tied for fifth, showed remarkable composure on a tough final day and finished third at 7-under behind winner 17-year-old Runzhi Pang of China (72). Fellow Chinese Cai Danlin (74) was second at 6-under.It was the first professional win for 17-year-old Runzhi, who started one behind Kai in the final round but finished one ahead to take the title.
He braved the heat, humidity and fatigue to win by one shot after surviving a tense closing stretch where he lost two shots in his last five holes. However, his even-par 72 was enough to seal victory in a week that featured several weather-related interruptions.
Amateur Mehreen Bhatia, making the cut on her first start at a pro event outside India, shot her third consecutive 76 despite briefly carrying the bag herself after her caddy fell ill after the second hole. His mother Ruhi played the role of caddy for the last 14 holes.After completing the second round this morning, the final round, played with a shotgun start to ensure 54 holes, finished in fading light.
Hitashi, who leads the Hero Order of Merit on her home tour, made four top-20s in the eight-week period – three at the Thailand LPGA and one in the Philippines besides a mini-tour event in Thailand. He finished third in Singapore.
In the shotgun start, Hitashi, who had started on the second hole, parred the first four before dropping a shot on the sixth hole, his fifth, when the ball hit the bunker wall and went long. He got a shot back on the next hole, the seventh, with an eight-foot birdie putt."What followed was a string of 10 disappointing pars, but I held my composure before making a putt from under 10 feet on the 18th, my 17th hole," he said.
It was his second birdie of the day and helped him move up to solo third place.
Hitashi said, "I've learned a lot over the past two months and this week was tough with all the obstacles and Laguna is a tough course. I'm proud of the way I handled myself."
“I will fly straight to Bengaluru and play a practice round and a three-day tournament on the Hero WPG Tour from Tuesday."I'm grateful to organizer Lin Yeoh for inviting me to play here. It was a great experience and the course was world class," she said.
“The biggest challenge for me was the second day, when I played 28 holes despite frequent stops. I came to the course at 5.30 in the morning and left at 7.30 in the evening, but thankfully I completed the second round on Saturday itself. " On Saturday, she was 1-under for her remaining 10 holes from the first round and 4-under for the second round, which ended with a 3-putt bogey.With an exhausted but happy mother by his side, Hitashi said, "After 28 holes the day before, the 18 holes on the final day seemed easy despite the pressure."
"It was amazing to make the cut in a pro event, my first outside India. I was hoping for 76-76, better than the first two," said 15-year-old Mehreen, a medalist at the US Kids European and World Championships. But before my mother could take over, my Caddy fell ill.or ssc
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