Aditi, Madsen tied at top to set up thrilling finale

For the better part of the penultimate day of the Qatar Ladies Open, the first-ever Ladies European Tour event in Qatar being played at the Doha Golf Club, Indian teenager Aditi Ashok managed to keep a two-stroke cushion, while being given a close chase by her weekend groupmates, overnight co-leaders Nanna Koerstz Madsen of Denmark and Lydia Hall of Wales.
The 18-year-old from the southern Indian city of Bangalore had sizzled with a bogey-free 66 in Thursday’s second round to lie a stroke behind Hall and Madsen going into the weekend action, and her steady show continued yesterday too, when she sunk back to back birdies on the sixth and seventh holes, after a gain on the fourth, to go ahead by two strokes on the front nine.
She gained another shot on the par-five 10th to open her back nine, before two stumbles on the 15th and 17th spoiled what could have been another flawless day. She did sign off with her sixth birdie on the 18th but the two drops allowed overnight leader Madsen to catch up with Aditi at the top.
Going into today’s final round, the petite Indian teen and the long-hitting Dane were tied at the top at 12-under 204, promising an exciting climax to the inaugural edition of the LET event.
The due are a stroke ahead of Becky Morgan from Wales, who hit a 66, with England’s Annabel Dimmock a stroke further behind in fourth place and fellow Welshwoman Hall alone in fifth on nine-under-par.
Aditi is targeting back-to-back victories following her maiden win at the Hero Women’s Indian Open a fortnight ago, while Madsen is also aiming for her second Ladies European Tour title after claiming her first win at the Tipsport Golf Masters in Pilsen in June.
“It was quite windy in the morning so I knew I had to be sharp with my approaches. I had a few birdie chances which I made, so that start was good,” said Aditi, who is the LET’s leading rookie after her win in India.
“On the back nine, I just couldn’t hit as good as I was hitting on the front nine and I miscalculated the wind a couple of times as well. I made a lot of putts on the front nine, so I was bound to miss a couple. I finished with a birdie, so it was good. It’s great to be in contention, the week after a win.
“I’m really happy with the way I’m playing this week. I played with Nanna today and she’s an aggressive player as well, so it will be fun tomorrow,” added the 18-year-old Indian, who has the comforting presence of her father and caddie, Pandit Gudlamani Ashok, on the course.
Co-leader Madsen made a run of nine straight pars going out, but she picked up the pace with four birdies and a bogey coming home in a round of 69.
“The front nine, I just didn’t hit it close enough so I didn’t give myself the birdie chances I needed.
“On the back nine, I had a few more chances which I made, so that was good,” said Madsen, a second year member of the Ladies European Tour.
“On the 18th, it was lucky that my second shot didn’t go into the water. I was just happy that I didn’t have to take a drop. It’s better to be tied for the lead than be one behind, but either is okay.”
Morgan moved right into contention for a first professional title when she fired eight birdies against two dropped shots in a 66.
“I played well today and got off to a really good start. I dropped a couple of shots late on the front nine but played the back nine really well. The last few days I haven’t made many putts from six to 15 feet, so I think I putted really well today. I hit some close but I made some good 10-footers as well.
“There are a couple of par-5s and 16 is a driveable par-4. If you hit the fairway then you’ve got some good scoring opportunities,” she said.
Frenchwoman Jade Schaeffer, a two-time winner on the LET, climbed from 35th place overnight into a share of sixth with Linda Wessberg after a tournament low-round of 65.
“I played well and made a lot of putts. I just enjoyed it because I made the cut, so now I’m playing a bit more freely now, because I’m staying on the Ladies European Tour next year,” explained Schaeffer, who swapped her stylish bucket hat for a baseball cap on day three.
“I didn’t put my usual hat on today because it was raining, but you might see it again tomorrow!” she quipped.
The start of the third round was delayed by two hours and 40 minutes due to lightning and rain, but the skies quickly cleared and play was underway by 10am.
Leading scores
204: Aditi Ashok (India) 70-66-68; Nanna Koerstz Madsen (Denmark) 69-66-69
205: Becky Morgan (Wales) 69-70-66
206: Annabel Dimmock (Eng) 69-67-70
207: Lydia Hall (Wales) 67-68-72
208: Jade Schaeffer (France) 72-71-65; Linda Wessberg (Sweden) 71-67-70