Indian amateur Gauri Monga made the Women’s Indian Open 2013 memorable for local fans as she finished a creditable tied fifth here on Saturday.

In the benign course conditions at the DGC, the 20-year-old shot a two-under 70 for the second consecutive day to aggregate three-under 143. She finished for a tied fifth place with Ladies European Tour (LET) sensation Charley Hull of England, who shot a 72, and US veteran Beth Allen, who carded day’s best round of six-under 66.

20-year-old Indian amateur, Gauri Monga, showed that she is a golfer to watch out for as she shot a two-under 70 in the second round to finish tied fourth at the Hero Women’s Indian Open 2013 here on Friday.

Gauri, who shot one-over 73 in the first round at her home course – the Delhi Golf Club (DGC), totaled one-under 143 after the penultimate round. Gauri is now three strokes behind the sole leader, Thidapa Suwannapura of Thailand.

Other than Gauri’s brilliant show, the tournament turned out to be a modest outing for many other Indians. The cut was declared at nine-over 155 and 10 out of 19 Indians made the cut.

The Indian challenge at the 7th edition of the Hero Women’s Indian Open will be led by the young brigade of Sharmila Nicollet, Vani Kapoor and Neha Tripathi. Veteran Indian golfer Smriti Mehra will also be seen in action when the tournament commences tomorrow at the Delhi Golf Club (DGC).

The only Ladies European Tour (LET) event in India in its seventh edition will see a change of venue for the first time as the DGC plays host to this prestigious tournament. With a playing field of 106, this tournament will see the likes of Gwladys Nocera of France, Holly Clyburn and LET rookie Charley Hull from England, Sophie Gustafson of Sweden and Chung Ye Na from South Korea in action.

Earlier this year Rashid Khan came tantalisingly close to his maiden Asian Tour at the SAIL-SBI Open. It is something Rashid cannot forget easily. On Saturday, he played the Delhi Golf Course as if he was in a practice round, drilling birdies with amazing regularity. He had eight of them, plus an eagle on eighth but he also dropped three bogeys to end up with a card of 65.

At 12-under 204 after rounds of 69, 70 and 65 he is lying third, five shots behind runaway leader Siddikur and one behind second place and fellow Indian, SSP Chowrasia.

Shiv Kapur and Anirban Lahiri exemplified the spirit to fight and stay on in the hunt as both of them recovered from none-too-happy rounds on the first day. Considered two of the best Indian prospects on the international circuit now, the two Hero Motocorp Ltd. sponsored golfers, chose the mega platform of the 50th Hero Indian Open to bounce back into the picture.

Kapur and Lahiri were part of the younger brigade that were identified as the ones who would took over from the likes of Jeev Milkha Singh, Arjun Atwal and Jyoti Randhawa.

Delhi golfer Vani Kapoor won her second title on the trot at the final calendar event of the Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour 2013. Vani returned with a final score of 214 (68; 73; 73) after 54 holes to walk away with the winner’s cheque. Hero MotoCorp sponsored Bengaluru golfer Sharmila Nicollet shot a hole-in-one on the 8th hole to finish the event as the runner’s up trailing Vani by four shots. The INR 5,00,000 event was being played at the Jaypee Greens golf course in Greater Noida.

Carrying forward from her overnight lead Vani played a cautious round to finish as the winner in the 13th leg of the Hero Women’s professional Golf Tour 2013. Her round today consisted of two birdies on the 6th and 11th holes along with three bogeys on the 7th, 10th and 14th holes. Bengaluru golfer Sharmila Nicollet had a mixed day with some exciting as well as depressing moments.  She finished the final round with a total score of 218 (67; 76; 75). Her round today included a hole-in-one on the 8th hole, three double bogeys on the 3rd, 14th and 17th holes, two bogeys on the 4th and 7th holes and three birdies on the 9th, 13th and 18th holes.

A star-studded field will tee off at the Delhi Golf Club to mark the Golden Jubilee of the historic Hero Indian Open on November 7. The event, which will be preceded by a Pro-Am on November 6, will carry a purse of US$ 1.25 million.

Returning to the place of its birth in 1964, the Hero Indian Open will once again see a plethora of champions and international stars line up for what will be a momentous occasion in Indian golf.

Gauri Monga carded a three under 69 including four birdies on the front nine to register an emphatic come from behind victory at the 4th USHA DGC LADIES OPEN AMATEUR GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP 2013, which concluded at the famous Delhi Golf Club course. Gauri finished one stroke ahead of Day 2 leader Ridhima Dilawari with an aggregate score of 218 at the end of 54 holes of golf. Ridhima, who had a total of two bogeys over two days of golf, tripled that count on the day it mattered most, to fritter away a four stroke advantage she held before the start of the final day. Seher Atwal, who registered the only eagle of the tournament at the par five 14th, eventually finished third, carding an even par 72 to finish with a score of 220.

Ridhima Dilawari of the Delhi Golf Club (DGC) reaped the rewards of two days of brilliant percentage golf, collecting a mere two bogeys over 36 holes, to grab the lead at the end of Day two of the 4th USHA DGC LADIES OPEN AMATEUR GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP 2013.  On a day which saw overnight leader Gauri Monga slip to third place with a couple of double bogeys and even a triple bogey, Ridhima carded a sublime one under 71 for a combined total of 144, four shots clear of second placed Seher Atwal (148).

Seher in fact had the best start of the day sinking a birdie at the very outset and grabbing another on the par three 5th hole. She would have another birdie on the par four 11th, but a double bogey on the day’s last hole (18th) put paid to any aspirations she might have had of gaining the lead. Seher eventually finished the day with a score of one over 73. Gauri Monga had a forgettable day carding a seven over 79 but stayed in contention to lie sole third on the back of her strong showing on the opening day (two under 70).

Persistent inclement weather played spoilsport, resulting in the abandoning of the final days’s play in the Usha Northern India Ladies & Junior Girls Golf Championships 2013, at Gurgaon’s Classic Golf Course. Gaurika Bishnoi, the leader at the end of two days with an aggregate score of three under 141 over 36 holes of golf, was eventually declared the winner.  This is the Gurgaon girl’s first win of the season. Gauri Monga came in second with a score of even par 144 while Bangalore’s Aditi Ashok was placed third, finishing with a score of one over 145.

Ms. Nonita Lall Qureshi, one of the pioneers of Indian golf and an Arjuna Awardee, distributed the trophies and other prizes to the winners as chief guest at the prize distribution ceremony.