Golfer Vani aims for fifth title in Noida

Delhi youngster Vani Kapoor will draw inspiration from her stellar domestic form and look to return to winning ways at the 17th leg of the Hero Women's Professional Golf Tour to be played at the picturesque Noida Golf Course.

The Rs.5 lakh event will feature 13 professionals and lone amateur Tavleen Batra vying for top honours and will be played from November 18 to 20.

Vani currently leads the Order of Merit with total earnings of Rs.15,56,400 and has posted four wins in 16 appearances. Her last win came at the Eagleton in the 10th leg of the tour.

A win here will stretch her unassailable lead furthermore at the top of the leaderboard. Vani, who finished as the best Indian professional at the recently concluded Women's Indian Open last month, will, however, face a strong challenge from Punchkula's Amandeep Drall.

The rookie, who is currently occupying second place in the Order of Merit with Rs.12,69,935, has registered two wins from 16 appearances and is the outright favourite to win the Rookie of the Year award. She has been one of the most consistent players this year and will push Vani to the hilt to secure her third win this season.

Kolkata's Neha Tripathi, sitting third in the money list with Rs.10,41,366, will be eager to register her first win this year. Neha, who has been guilty of letting potentially winning situations slip away, will look to break the jinx and end her title drought.

Kolkata's Smriti Mehra is currently in fourth position with Rs.8,32,500, also has two wins. She will be aiming for a top finish in the penultimate event of the season.

Kapurthala's Gursimar Badwal, occupying fifth position in the money list with Rs.7,35,566, will also hope for her first professional title.

This event will also mark the return of English player Kiran Matharu after a gap of five months. She has already won twice this season and will be eager to add another title to her tally.

Other players to watch out for will be Chandigarh's Saaniya Sharma, Pune's Shweta Galande and the Delhi trio of Mehar Atwal, Gauri Monga and Ankita Tiwana.

Sharmila Nicollet is the notable absentee from the event.