Did Avani Prashanth Miss Out on Victory in Belgium?

Hulencourt (Belgium), June 15 (NationPress) India’s emerging talent Avani Prashanth began the last day of the Hulencourt Women’s Open with a slim one-shot advantage but struggled in the final round. She recorded a score of 3-over 75, ultimately finishing tied for fifth, marking her best result of the season with a total of 7-under 281.

Celebrating her 22nd birthday this week, fellow rookie Darcey Harry from Wales bounced back after an early bogey to deliver an impressive round of 68, concluding the tournament at 13-under. This victory was a significant milestone, being her first win.

Starting the day with a lead, Avani faced early setbacks, opening with two consecutive bogeys. She struggled to regain her momentum, dropping shots on the first, second, and ninth holes, which saw her score descend from 11-under to 8-under. A lone birdie on the Par-5 13th provided a momentary boost, but she concluded with another bogey on the 18th, finishing with a score of 75, her least favorable round after three consistent rounds of 68-69-69. She ended up tied for fifth place alongside Lauren Walsh (71).

This tied fifth position is Avani's best finish as a professional golfer, matching her previous T-5 at the 2023 Hero Women’s Indian Open when she was an amateur. Throughout this season, she has secured four Top-20 finishes.

Diksha Dagar scored 72, finishing T-23 at 1-under, while Tvesa Malik was T-48 with a score of 76. Diksha’s round included two birdies and two bogeys.

Darcey Harry, who trailed Avani at the start, also faced a bogey early in her round, but rebounded spectacularly from the fifth hole onwards with birdies on the fifth, eighth, ninth, and tenth. A bogey on the 11th was quickly overshadowed by an eagle on the 13th and a birdie on the 14th, propelling her to 14-under and four strokes clear of second-placed Nastasia Nadaud (71). Darcey managed to afford a bogey on the 16th before closing with two pars, securing a three-shot victory in her debut season on the Ladies European Tour.

Darcey’s performance included five birdies, three bogeys, and one eagle, marking her second eagle of the week after achieving one on the tenth during the third round.

Nastasia, who was tied for second with Darcey after the third day and one behind Avani, recorded six birdies but also gave away three bogeys, including a double bogey on the Par-4 12th. She finished with a score of 71, placing her at 11-under and in sole second position.

Amelia Garvey (66) had one of the standout rounds of the day, rising from T-18 to a commendable third place, while Helen Briem posted a round of 72 with one birdie and one bogey, finishing as the sole fourth at 8-under.