Weekend winners: Ashok becomes the first Indian winner, Ciganda doubles up
Ladies European Tour: Hero Women’s Indian Open – Aditi Ashok
The rookie Ashok became the first home winner of the tournament and the first Indian to prevail on the LET after pipping Belen Mozo and Brittany Lincicome by a shot.
Ashok first played in the event as a 13-year-old amateur and, incredibly, she was eighth the following year. This time the winner of last year’s Tour School shot a 72 and a birdie at the last gave her the first of likely more victories – she had four successive top 10s coming into this tournament.
Mozo and Ashok both dropped shots at the 17th to be tied for the lead with the American before the Indian teenager had a stroke of luck at the par-5 last, getting some assistance from a greenside bunker and seeing the ball roll back down to four feet.
Order of Merit leader Beth Allen shot a 68 to share sixth place.
Amazing. Congrats to @aditigolf on winning @LETgolf @HeroWIO2016 ???#history
— Annika Sorenstam (@ANNIKA59) November 13, 2016
What Ashok said: “I’ve had a lot of good finishes at the Indian Open and to finally get the job done feels good, especially as an Indian player in front of my home crowd. It means a lot to win this.
“I was planning to play just for the front (at 18) but I was playing out of the rough so it came out hot and flew more. It’s a tricky hole because you can’t see the green. I don’t know. Belen hit hers left and it found the green, so she was lucky as well. I think I was really lucky on the 18th but I missed quite a few on the front nine. The course was giving back to me.”
LPGA Tour: Lorena Ochoa Invitational – Carlota Ciganda
A second win in four starts for the Spaniard as she shot a 68 for a two-shot win over six players which included England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Karine Icher of France.
Ciganda, second last year, made a fast start with an eagle and two birdies in the first six holes and a birdie at the par-5 17th gave her a cushion playing the last. She won her first event a month ago in South Korea and she now has five straight top-10 finishes.
What Ciganda said: “It’s wonderful to play here in Mexico. I honestly don’t have any words. I love the course, the people, it’s an honour to be here. I’ve been playing really good all year long and to end this year with these two victories gives me a lot of confidence, I am very happy.’
”Last year, I was close. ‘It was a shame not being able to win but it was still a good last day, so I had really good memories. Last week, I was back home just resting because I wanted to play here and to do so well, so I am really happy and thrilled that I was able to win.”
