In a remarkable comeback, Neha Tripathi, who had endured more than four and a half years without a win, defied the odds by clinching victory twice in just three starts on the Women’s Pro Golf Tour (WPGT) last Friday. This extraordinary feat not only marked her resurgence but also set the stage for an exciting climax to the season.

Neha’s journey to redemption began during the 10th leg of the tour before the mid-year break, where she secured a stunning victory. Undoubtedly motivated by this success, she continued to shine in the 12th leg of the WPGT at the Golden Greens Golf & Resorts Ltd, boosting her chances for a remarkable season finale.

Standing tall alongside the year’s top performers, Sneha Singh and Gaurika Bishnoi, Neha became the third player to clinch two titles in 2023. Despite Sneha Singh maintaining her top position on the Order of Merit with a T-22 finish, Neha’s stellar performance propelled her to the second spot, closely followed by Seher Atwal, who finished 12th in the latest event.

Neha’s path to victory in the 12th leg was not without its challenges. Despite a disastrous quadruple bogey during her round of 1-over 73, she managed to secure a triumphant win with a three-shot lead. Her total score of 8-under 208, achieved through rounds of 68-67-73, solidified her dominance on the leader board.

However, the final day witnessed a spirited challenge from Tvesa Malik, who put together a sensational 6-under 66 to secure a second-place finish at 5-under 211. Tvesa had endured a mixed start with scores of 75-70 in the first two days but made a remarkable comeback in the final round.

Ridhima Dilawari and Riya Yadav, who had been strong contenders throughout the tournament, finished tied for third place with a total score of 4-under 212. Neha, starting the final day with a two-shot lead, faced a crisis with a quadruple bogey on the Par-5 fifth hole. However, her closest rival, Riya Yadav, failed to capitalize on this opportunity, recording bogeys on the eighth and ninth holes and three consecutive bogeys from the 13th to 15th holes, ultimately falling to a tied-third finish.

Neha’s road to recovery saw her secure crucial birdies on the eighth and 10th holes. She added another birdie on the 14th but dropped a shot on the 15th. With a composed performance in the closing holes, she secured her second win of the season, receiving a winner’s cheque of Rs. 1,48,000 from Mr. Ravi Grover, Director of Golden Greens Golf & Resorts Ltd.

Tvesa Malik, who made an impressive final-round surge, fell three shots short of Neha’s lead but gained valuable confidence moving forward. Ridhima Dilawari delivered a consistent performance with two birdies and a bogey in the early stages and parred the final six holes for a score of 70.

Sneha Singh, the leader of the Order of Merit, faced a disappointing week with rounds of 80, 78, and 75, finishing in a T-22nd position. Gaurika Bishnoi and Asmitha Sathish tied for fifth place at 1-under 215, while Khushi Khanijau secured seventh place at even par 216 with a second consecutive 71.

The top amateur prize was jointly claimed by Smriti Bhargava (73-76-75) and Nishna Patel (75-73-76).

With the stage set for the next event scheduled from September 19 to 21 at DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurugram, the Women’s Pro Golf Tour promises more exhilarating competition and moments of triumph.