Women's Golf Association of India

(Professional Golf)

Vani Kapoor of Inda along with her caddie during the last round of Aramco Team Series - Jeddah

Vani registers a Top-10 in Aramco Series as 16-year-old Chiara wins title

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, November 13:Vani Kapoor closed the week with a birdie-birdie finish for a solid card of 3-under 69 at the Aramco Series – Jeddah to register a second straight Top-10 finish on the Ladies European Tour. The tied eighth finish in Jeddah on her Aramco Series debut with 8-under 208 total, came on the heels of a similar finish in her own home open, the Hero Women’s Indian Open.

The other Indians were way behind with Amandeep Drall (72) in tied 49th, Diksha Dagar (74) in tied 58th and Tvesa Malik (73) in tied 63rd place.

Vani playing with the experienced Lee Ann Pace, birdied second and fourth, but dropped a shot in between on the third. Eighth pars followed before a birdie and a bogey on 13th and 14th at which point, she was 1-under for the final round. She birdied 17th and 18th for a fine finish and a Top-10 result ahead of the Tour Championships.

Meanwhile, the 16-year-old Chiara Noja, a high school senior based in Dubai, claimed her maiden victory on the LET following a sensational play-off against her childhood idol, Charley Hull.

Noja matched the tournament low of 65 in the final round at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club to secure her place in the play-off while Hull produced four birdies in her last six holes to tie with Noja on 13-under-par in regular play.

Despite the pressure on the young schoolgirl, Noja excellent golf for unfaltering back-to-back birdies in the play-off, to secure the victory and the $75,000 first prize.

Following an invitation from the tournament organisers, Noja took a break from her mock GCSE’s to play and joked earlier in the week that “the goal is to win this week, so I don’t need school anymore” after accidentally bringing the wrong books to study in Jeddah.

After the goal came to fruition, Noja said: “I don’t think it’s sunk in quite yet. I think the happiness will come later this evening. Before we went out, my Dad showed Charley a picture of me with her as a 10-year-old. It’s like a full circle, it’s a blessing.

“I’ve worked hard over a lot of years now to be able to not back out of shots and commit to everything that I do and not be afraid to fail.”

“I have no clue what the plan is next.” Noja added “I can’t even begin to fathom it. I’m just going to try and relax tonight. Maybe have a burger and sleep, probably the best night sleep I’m ever going to get and see how I feel.”

Nicole Garcia also pleased the crowd on 18 with an eagle from off the green to secure sole third place. She also led her team to victory here in Jeddah, her second team championship win as captain.

For the first time on the Aramco Team Series both the individual and team competitions were decided in play-offs with Team Garcia – Nicole Garcia, Cassandra Alexander, Tereza Melecka, and amateur Sonia Bayahya – claiming victory with a birdie in the first play-off hole against Team Wolf.

Garcia nominated teammate Alexander to take on the play-off against Christine Wolf, who was teamed up with Laura Beveridge, Alexandra Swayne, and Saudi-female Raghdah Alessawi, who was the teams amateur.

Jeddah marks the end of the 2022 Aramco Team Series following events in Bangkok, London, Sotogrande, and New York.

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Ms. Hitaashee Bakshi receiving winner's cheque and trophy from Mr. Tusch Daroga, AVP Ops-DLF G&CC