Women's Golf Association of India

Superb finishing 67 by Diksha earns her 15^thplace on Epson Tour

Longwood, Florida, March 18: Diksha Dagar turned in one of the best rounds of the final day of the IOA Golf Classic at the Alaqua Country Club to make a massive jump up the leaderboard on the Epson Tour event.

The two-time Ladies European Tour champion and third on the Merit list in 2023, shot a final round of 4-under 67 on the Par-71 course despite a double bogey and another late bogey. She had eight birdies and finished the week at 1-under in Tied-15th place, up from making the cut on the line T-58th place.

Diksha has been in fine form with two Top-10s on the LET so far and she will play another week on the Epson Tour, as she tees up at Atlantic Beach next week.

Diksha, who started the week with a modest 75, squeezed inside the cut with a second round 71. And then she produced a superb round at the challenging course. She first, sixth and eighth but suffered a setback with a double bogey on Par-5 ninth, For more birdies followed on the back nine on 10th, 11th, 13th and 16th before she dropped a shot on Par-4 17th and closed with a par.

Diksha found each fairway on the final day and needed just 27 putts as against 32 and 30 on the first two days. She also reached the green in regulation in 15 of the 18 holes, way better on the first two days,

Jessica Peng, who was sitting four shots behind second-round leader Lindsey McCurdy, shot a superb 67 with five birdies against one bogey. In contrast, McCurdy, who ended second, scored 72 and lost by one shot. Jessica (66-69-67) totalled 11-under and McCurdy (66-65-72) finished at 10-under.

McCurdy walked onto the 18th tee with a share of the lead after an up-and-down day. The scorecard was a colourful one for McCurdy, who tallied four birdies, five bogeys, an eagle, and a double bogey. The fifth and final bogey came on No. 18 after a tee shot sailed right of the green.

The victory for Peng came after being a professional for seven years, even

though her rookie season with the Epson Tour was in 2022.

Korea’s Kum-Kang Park (68-68-68) was third and Dewi Weber (66-66-73) was fourth.