Diksha (top) lost the season-opening Lalla Meryem Cup in a playoff to England’s Cara Gainer (bottom)
Two-time LET winner and Double Olympian Diksha Dagar has started her 2025 season campaign on a strong note with a runner-up finish at the season-opening Lalla Meryem Cup in Morocco, narrowly missing out on her third Ladies European Tour (LET) title after losing in a playoff to England’s Cara Gainer. In tandem with Diksha’s performance, LET rookie Avani Prashanth delivered a good showing at a commendable T16 position.
Starting the final round tied for 14th at three-under, Diksha carded a six-under 67 at the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam (Blue Course), setting a clubhouse target of nine-under 210. Gainer, playing in the group behind Diksha, matched her score to force a playoff. Diksha then went on to bogey the first playoff hole as Gainer made a birdie to secure her maiden LET victory.
Spain’s Nuria Iturrioz and Singapore’s Shannon Tan, who both held a brief lead at 10-under par at one point, fell back, allowing Gainer and Dagar to edge past them. Tan finished third at eight-under 211, while Ireland’s Lauren Walsh and Iturrioz shared fourth at seven-under 212.
Bangalore’s Avani Prashanth, playing in her first LET event after earning full playing rights in the Qualifying Tournament last year, delivered a solid performance with rounds of 71-74-70 to finish T16 at four-under 215. She overcame three mid-round bogeys, including a three-putt on the ninth, to shoot a two-under 70 on the final day, finishing alongside seasoned players like England’s Alice Hewson and Spain’s Ana Pelaez Trivino.
Sunshine Tour winner Tvesa Malik, the third Indian in the field, failed to make the cut, marking a tough start to her season.
Diksha is in Riyadh this week for the PIF Saudi Ladies International from February 13-15, along with Tvesa Malik, LET rookie Avani Prashanth, and the top-ranked Indian at 17th in last year’s LET Rankings – Pranavi Urs of Mysore.