Aditi Ashok closes in on maiden professional title
At three-under 141, Aditi ended Saturday with a two-shot lead over Belen Mozo
One way to succeed in golf is to move on while staying unaffected by the past. The margin of error can vary and at the DLF Golf and Country Club it is minimal.
Most of the week of the Hero Women’s Indian Open has been about the unforgiving nature of the course, and when even the leader spoke of how easy it is to make mistakes here, some credence had to be lent to the talk.
Off the course though, Aditi Ashok hasn’t forgotten the wide-eyed child she used to be during a week of competition. Sought out by two kids, she acceded to their request with affection. Hearing them out patiently, she pulled out golf balls and personalised them much to their joy.
At three-under 141, Aditi ended Saturday with a two-shot lead, but even the expressive face could not encapsulate her recovery on the penultimate day.
The start to Saturday was similar as she was over par after the front nine. Known to throw the occasional glance at the leaderboard, she looked up on the 6th only to bogey the hole.
No further attempt was made till after the 15th, but by then she had got the momentum going with three birdies in the space of six holes. Unlike Friday, when she teed off from the back nine, Aditi negotiated it much better.
“I gave myself chances (to make birdie) on all the holes (of the back nine) and made five of them. I was more comfortable today and that was because of the practice before the tournament,” she said.
Putting has been her strength, and Aditi felt she’d made enough putts so far. The start has been an issue and it was the ability to shut out the past that came to her rescue on both days.
With four top-10 finishes this season, Aditi is in reckoning for the rookie-of-the-year on the Ladies European Tour. With few events left, time is running out. She would like to seal it at home, and for that she will need to stay in play and give herself ample birdie chances through Sunday.
Rd II Leaderboard: 141: Aditi Ashok (72, 69); 143: Belen Mozo (73, 70); Emily Kristine Pedersen (71, 72); Christine Wolf (70, 73); 144: Anne-Lise Caudal (70, 74); Kiran Matharu (71, 73); K Muangkhumsakul (72, 72)
(Cut applied at 10-over 154)