Smriti wins seventh Hero Women's Pro Tour title

Mumbai, March 30 (IANS) Smriti Mehra could afford to drop a lot of shots and still win by a big three-shot margin to wrap up the 15th and final leg of the Hero Women's Professional Golf Tour here Friday.

The veteran star shot 79, including a two bogeys and a double bogey in the last three holes, to finish the week at six-over 216.

Smriti was three clear of Nalini Singh Siwach (74), who overhauled a fast-approaching Neha Tripathi to finish second. Nalini totalled 219, while Neha (71) was third at 220.

Shraddhanjali Singh (75) and Saaniya Sharma (77) were tied for fourth at 221. Nikki Ponappa (76) was sixth at 228 and was one of the two players to land an eagle on the final day. The other one was Neha, also on the par-5 fourth hole.

Smriti, who began the day seven shots ahead of Saaniya, opened with six pars before finding a double bogey. She then had a triply on the par-4 ninth. On the back nine, she birdied the 10th, but bogeyed the 11th. Then followed four pars and a bogey on 16th, a double on 17th and another bogey on 18th.

It was Smriti's seventh title of the season from 15 events and it also saw her finish the season on top of the Money List.