PHOTO GALLERY
2009 PHOTO GALLERY
SCORESHEET
November 13th 2010, Gurgaon, India: Laura Davies of England capped a dramatic week that began with a lost golf bag but ended with a trophy and a handsome cheque at the Hero Honda Women’s Indian Open golf 2010 at the DLF Golf and Country Club on Saturday.
Laura Davies of England, the most decorated among active players on European Tour and one of the all-time legends of women golf, edged ahead in a four-woman play-off. The other three were South African Tandi Cunningham (73), the overnight leader, Thai Nontaya Srisawang (71) and Louise Friberg (70).
Sharmila Nicollet shot a brilliant 69, which was the day’s best round and moved up to tied 23rd, up from overnight tied 54th to emerge as the best Indian.
Sharmila was on a dream run with five birdies, two on front nine and three on the backstretch. She also dropped two bogeys. “It is my best finish as a pro and I am so happy with it,” said Sharmila, who has also won three titles on domestic Women’s Professional Golf Tour.
The top amateur was Vaishavi Sinha of India (73-75-78) at 226 with Tanya Wadhwa second at 75-76-82) at 233.
Nearing the end, any of the top half a dozen players could have won the title. But it was 47-year-old Davies, who emerged the winner to grab the newly crafted trophy and received a cheque of $ 45,000 (Euros 33,750) that went with it from Mr. Pawan Munjal, CEO and MD of Hero Honda Motors Ltd.
Superwoman Davies, who after beginning the week without her clubs, found the eagle on the last hole in regulation play to get into a four-way play-off, which was held once again on the 18th. In the play-off Davies found another birdie, while Nontaya parred and the other two went into the water and ended with bogeys.
The four who tied at three-under 213 and went into the play-off had at least a birdie, but Davies forced herself into the party with an eagle for a round 70, that made up for a disappointing second round 78.
Long-hitting Davies, who lost her bag on the flight from China and found them just hours before the tee-off on first day, was two on and then she two-putted for birdie. When Nontaya Srisawang, at one stage held sole lead in regulation, missed her birdie putt from 12-feet and managed only a par, Davies had completed a fairy-tale week.
The other two, Cunningham and Friberg, both went into the water guarding the 18th and were left in a three-way tie for second place.
The win also kept alive Davies’ hopes of an eighth Order of Merit as she now takes the fight for the Henderson Money into the last stop at next month's Euros 500,000 Omega Dubai Ladies Masters in Dubai from Dec 8-11 at the Emirates Golf Club.
At the 'Desert Storm' as she calls the clash, Davies, who won her 79th title, will be involved in a duel with South Africa's Lee-Anne Pace to decide on the winner of the Henderson's Money List. Lee-Anne still leading the race finished in a tie for 15th.
France's Cassandra Kirkland was the sole finisher on fifth spot with a total of 214. She played a final round of one-over 73, while defending champion Pornanong Phatlum of Thailand, whose attempt at a hat-trick was unsuccessful, and Italy's Veronica Zorzi finished joint sixth with 215 total.
It was also a good outing for Nontaya who with the second placed moved into top-80 and is assured of a LET card next year.
