BOUNDLESS!

HER first name roughly translates to ‘boundless’ in the classical Indian language of Sanskrit. Aditi Ashok’s ‘boundless’ energy and unbridled enthusiasm were evident at the Doha Golf Club (DGC) last week as she went on to win the inaugural Qatar Ladies Open.

The 18-year-old shot a final round of three-under-par 69 on a rain-interrupted last day for a tournament total of 15-under-par and a three-stroke win over Wales’ Lydia Hall and Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall at the Ladies European Tour-sanctioned event. 

With a second straight win following success at the Hero Women’s Indian Open in New Delhi recently and also having secured four top 10 finishes this season, Aditi is in line to win the Rookie of the Year award.

Coming from the southern Indian state of Karnataka, Aditi’s consistent performances have already made her a major talking point in the golf circles in US and Europe as she eyes qualification for the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour.

“It has been a great few weeks. I won my home event which was my first. Winning back-to-back events feels really good. My aim is to qualify for the LPGA and play for many years on the Tour,” said Aditi.

Hardly had the winning feeling sunk in before she had to quickly dash off to Daytona Beach, Florida, for the LPGA Qualifying Tournament (Stage III) beginning on Thursday.

“The first win was special, because I won at home, but I felt I played really well at the DGC and scored sub-par rounds. I think my game was better and obviously to win in Qatar, where the course is the same as the men’s is very challenging and it makes me happy,” she said. 

Aditi took to the sport by chance. Along with her father Ashok, who is now her caddie, she was having breakfast at a restaurant that overlooks the Karnataka Golf Association’s golf course in her hometown Bangalore.

“One day, we just walked into the course and I started putting because it looked easy for a kid to learn and I found it as real fun,” recalls Aditi.

And the rest, as they say, is history. Starting off on India’s junior tours, Aditi went on to become national junior champion three times and in August this year, she became the first Indian woman golfer to represent her country at Olympics, where she came close to winning a bronze in Rio.

The successive titles this month have enhanced her credentials and the possibilites look boundless for Aditi. dsp