Golfer Vani eyes hat-trick in Pune

After consecutive victories in the last two events, Vani Kapoor will look for a hat-trick at the Hero-Oxford Women's Pro Golf Championship.

Vani currently leads the Order of Merit with total earnings of Rs.5.84 lakh and will start as the firm favourite at the Oxford Golf and Country Club here Wednesday. The Rs.6 lakh event will see 16 professionals fight it out for the trophy which will be given Feb 27.

The Delhi youngster is in good form with three victories and one runner-up finish in five appearances this season. However, she is expected to face tough competition from rookie Amandeep Drall, Bengaluru's Sharmila Nicollet and English golfer Kiran Matharu.

Panchkula's Amandeep has been impressive this season and is placed second in the Order of Merit with earnings of Rs.3.88 lakh. She will be eyeing her maiden victory and would like to reduce the gap at the top.

Sharmila has been inconsistent this season and would be eager to make amends. Kiran has already tasted victory in her maiden appearance and would like to add another title to her tally.

Local Shweta Galande will be playing in front of her home fans and would be eager to make an impact. She hasn't been in the best of form and would be eyeing a turnaround.

Kolkata's Neha Tripathi and veteran Smriti Mehra too have struggled and will press for their first victory of the season. Others to watch out for are Chandigarh's Saaniya Sharma, Delhi's Gauri Monga and Mehar Atwal, playing her first event as a professional.