Teenager Diksha Dagar  clinch S.African Women’s Open, becomes  second Indian to win LET title

Harpal Singh Bedi / New Delhi

Teenager  Diksha Dagar carded  a superb  bogey-free final round of three-under to score a one-shot win at the Two million Rand (approx. the US $ 140,000)  Women’s South African Open in Capetown,  on Saturday and in the process became second Indian to win  a tournament on the Ladies European Tour (LET)

According to information received here, trailing by two shots, 18-year Indian came from behind to pip much experienced local Lee Anne Pace.

Aditi Ashok, was the first Indian to achieve this distinction was in 2016. She added two more LET wins and now plays on the LPGA.

Diksha is aiming to play in the LPGA, which on current form looks a strong possibility. She played at the Women’s Hero Indian Open as an amateur and made the cut.

A left-hander, Diksha is well-known for brand of aggressive and fearless golf. She started her campaign in the tournament  in a very sedate note, with double bogeys in first three holes. She had  one more bogey on the 12^th hole and ended the first day with 76, but with scoring tough on a windy day, she was still inside Top-20.

Thereafter she played the next 42 holes without a blemish and finished at five-under 211, while Lee-Anne (72) ended at four-under 212. She rose to second by the end of the second day and finally won the title on the final day.

The  Indian teenager  trailed till late into the back nine. She started one behind and Lee-Anne pulled to two clear with a birdie on 11^th but bogeyed the 13^th to fall back to five-under. She birdied 15^th and 16^th and that helped her catch up leader Lee-Anne at five-under. 

The South African dropped another shot on 17^th and Diksha  stayed steady and one ahead. As both parred the final hole the Indian won the title.

Esther Henseleit (70) of South Africa and Michele Thompson (68) of Australia were tied for third at three-under 212, and Carly Booth (69) of England was fifth at 2-under 214.

Diksha , who turned 18 last December, also had a stellar Amateur career during which she also represented India at the 2018 Asian Games and won the 2018 Singapore Amateur title.