Sifat slips but secures title

Sifat Alag reserved her worst for the last but none of her rivals could take advantage of her meltdown as the Uttar Pradesh golfer sealed victory in the Southern India Ladies and Junior Girls Golf Championship on Thursday.

On an extremely difficult day for scoring where none of the players was able to break par, Sifat carded six-over 76 to total 212 and seal a two-shot victory at the Clover Greens in Hosur for her maiden amateur title.

Diksha Dagar won the Category A title, Kushi Hooda -- round one leader -- clinched Category B while Vidhatru Urs wore the Category C crown.

Sifat, struggling with her driving and putting all day, managed to take the turn at two-over following bogeys on fourth and eighth holes. The inward journey, however, started on a horrendous note for the youngster as she triple-bogeyed the 11th. The nerves got the better of her on the 13th too where she dropped a shot again.

She redeemed herself with a birdie on the 14th but a bogey followed on the 16th. However, all the mistakes didn't cost her dear as the rest of her rivals too bungled under the intense heat.

Leading scores (after 54 holes): Category A, B & Ladies: 212: Sifat Alag (69, 67, 76); 214: Gurjot Badwal (71, 72, 71), Kushi Hooda (68, 74, 72).

Ladies: 212: Sifat Alag; 214: Gurjot Badwal; 234: Dolma Rawat (78, 81, 75).

Cat A (15-17 years): 216: Diksha Dagar (73, 68, 75); 221: Hitaashee Bakshi (76, 73, 72); 223: Shreya Pal (71, 74, 78).

Cat B (13-14): 214: Kushi Hooda; 218: Rakshita Singh (73, 75, 70); 221: Zoya Vayangankar (70, 74, 77).

Cat C (11-12): 219: Vidhatru Urs (67, 76, 76); 221: Rishika Muralidhar (72, 74, 75); 225: Rashmi S (76, 78, 71).