Raksha Phadke emerges champion

Overnight joint leader Raksha Phadke from Pune played stunning golf on her maiden appearance in the Hero Women's Professional Golf Tour 2014 to finish at the top in the Rs 5 Lakh event at the KGA Golf course, here Friday.

In strong winds, Raksha showcased maturity beyond her years and played consistent golf on a day when none from the field of 16 could card a sub-par score.

The Pune amateur was one amongst only three players to card an even par score for the final round. Raksha's round consisted of two birdies on the 4th and 17th holes along with two bogeys on the 8th and 15th as she finished with a total of 216 after 54 holes.

Current Hero Order of Merit leader Vani Kapoor played yet another even par round to take the joint second spot with Bangaluru amateur Anisha Padukone with identical totals of 218.

Vani walked away with the winner's cheque by virtue of being the best professional. Vani's round consisted of four birdies and an equal number of bogeys.

Local amateur and overnight joint leader Anisha Padukone could not maintain the momentum going into the final round as she carded a two-over 74.

Fellow-Bangalorean Nikita Arjun finished fourth with a total of 221. She started off impressively with a flawless even par front nine, but surprisingly faltered in her back nine carding four bogeys with just a lone birdie.

Hero MotoCorp-sponsored local sensation Sharmila Nicolett finished at the fifth position with a total of 223 after the final round. Her final round score of five-over 77 consisted of two bogeys and an equal number of double bogeys with a lone birdie on the 13th hole.

Chandigarh's Saaniya Sharma was tied for the sixth place with Kolkata's Neha Tripathi and Pune's Shweta Galande with identical totals of 226.

Amateurs Mehar Atwal and Ankita Kedlaya were placed ninth and 10th with totals of 228 and 231, respectively.

The tour now moves to the beautiful Eagleton Golf Resort here for Leg 9. The Hero Women's Professional Golf Tour 2014 comprises a total of 15 legs spanning across key locations in India.