Abu Dhabi title after dramatic finale

It was an exhilarating final day for fans as a back-nine battle saw India's Aditi Ashok hold on to emerge victorious in the second Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open with an untouchable 18 under par.

Ashok, who started the day in first position after three solid performances, hit her weakest round of the week; which was still an astonishingly low 3 under par, which was just enough for her to claim the trophy, a career third LET title and ?70,787.85 first prize purse. "I'm happy I came out on top" expressed Ashok.

She added: "It was the plan on seventeenth as well, so I don't know how that happened. I did the same on 18 and gave myself a birdie chance and it just didn't go in. On the tee box I actually watched Georgia hit the second shot and heard clapping, so knew that was a par putt. I figured out I only had a one short lead and I was kind of in-between minds whether I should go over the water or go from the left. I decided to go from the left and it worked."

Ashok was certainly the most consistent over the four days so it was no surprise the seasoned golfer would be in the mix. She said: "I was in control as I had my game plan and I wasn't too aggressive. I just kept giving myself birdie putts. That was the story of my putting all week. I guess it was the birdies that did it for me."

Meanwhile, 21-year-old Georgia Hall went into the day in fifth position, looking to better her runner-up performance from 2016, and with a stellar front nine of 33 consisting of three birdies and six pars, the talented Hall looked confident. The back nine saw the requisite number of birdies excruciatingly fall short for Hall who managed three birdies and six pars for the remaining back nine, meaning Hall once again had to settle for second place.

Hall said: "I'm a little disappointed, I thought to myself I needed 8 under today and I was ticking them off in my head. I hit the ball great all week but putted really badly, and didn't hole anything today. But Aditi played great again and managed to par the last, so well done to her."

She added: "I played the best rounds, in terms of my long game in 2017, but putting, I hit good ones and they just weren't going in. Going down the last, I thought I was three behind, so I thought I had no chance, if I had known maybe things would have been different but it is what it is. But I really enjoyed the week in Abu Dhabi and had a lot of fun out there."

Sweden's Camilla Lennarth also managed to keep the pressure on throughout the day. A consistent performance of six birdies, aside from a fourteenth hole bogey, kept her nipping at the heels of Ashok and Hall, but it was not enough to quite catch the top two.

Lennarth said: "Absolutely thrilled with how I finished today. I have had a really solid week and gave it my all out there. I am going to go home, missing India and China, to get some much needed recovery before playing in Dubai."

The day belonged to Ashok though, who demonstrated consistency and skill all week that is bound to inspire those who got to witness how thrilling women's golf is today.

Dr Mai Al Jaber, board member of The Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy said: "Congratulations to all the lady golfers. It has been wonderful to witness their power and grace this week and they have provided us with four days of amazing action. I have no doubt that their participation will inspire women of all ages to become involved in this sport. As members of the Abu Dhabi sporting community, our vision is to inspire the next generation of UAE sports stars by offering them the platform to succeed."

Source: Khaleej Times