Harpal Singh Bedi
Gurugram :Defending champion Camille Chevalier will return to extend the lease on the Hero Women’s Indian Open title at DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurgaon next week, looking for back-to-back titles.
Last year, the rising French star fired five birdies in her last eight holes to become the third successive LET rookie to win the title, following Emily Kristine Pedersen (2015) and Aditi Ashok (2016), all of whom went on to become the LET rookie of the year in their debut season on tour.
With rounds of 68, 69 and 67, Chevalier finished on 12-under-par and narrowly edged Scotland’s Michele Thomson, who was leading after 15 holes, before her putter turned cold. Anne Van Dam, Carlota Ciganda and Sarah Kemp ended three strokes further back in third place.
In the last three editions, it has ultimately all come down to the dramatic 18th hole at DLF. Chevalier’s precision accuracy helped her to walk away with the women’s trophy. At her 54th hole, she laid up short of the water and played a 58 degree wedge from 65 metres to within one metre from the hole, before rolling in her putt for birdie.
Chevalier said that practising regularly at Le Golf National in Paris, the 2018 Ryder Cup venue and home of the French Federation, was the perfect preparation for the challenging Gary Player designed Black Knight Course.