Avani Prashanth with her match play and stroke play trophies
15-year-old Avani Prashanth of Bangalore, validated her top world amateur ranking among Indians by lifting the 107th All India Ladies Amateur title at Noida Golf Course with a dominant performance.
Avani, who has also won two pro titles on the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour (Hero WPGT) beat Kriti Chowhan of Jaipur by 4 and 2 in the 36 hole final match which she led from the start. Avani jumped to a 4 up lead after 9 holes which was extended to 6 up after 27, at which point in time the result was a foregone conclusion. However Kriti mounted a small fightback, winning the 10th, 12th and 13th before Avani closed the match out on the 16th green.
Avani Prashanth receiving her match play trophy at Noida Golf Course
In the semi finals, Avani knocked out 13 year old fellow Bangalorean Saanvi Somu, who was a surprise sensation at the event, while Kriti got the better of defending champion, Sneha Singh of Hyderabad, in a battle between two 17 year olds.
Kriti Chowhan receiving her runner-up trophy
Avani, Kriti and Sneha had all been part of the 6 member Indian team who had recently competed at the Asia Pacific Women’s Amateur at Abu Dhabi.
A total of 50 amateur girls had participated in the 36 hole stroke play qualifier from which 32 advanced to the knockout stage played in match-play format. Avani was the top-seeded player in the field, having finished No 1 in the stroke play event.