Vani to take the plunge

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Vani Kapoor

Vani Kapoor, one of India’s most promising talents in women’s golf, will take the plunge as she turns professional at the season-opener Hero-KGA women’s pro golf tournament, that tees off in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

Vani, the 18-year-old Delhi lass, has represented India at various international amateur events, including the Asian Games and the Queen Sirikit Cup.
Vani will join established pros Sharmila Nicollet — who also plays on the Ladies European Tour — Smriti Mehra, Nalini Singh Siwach, Neha Tripathi and Saaniya Sharma among others.
“It is exciting to play as a pro and I am a bit nervous. Some butterflies, maybe they will stay till I tee off on Wednesday,” said Vani.
“But I am sure when I am on the course, things will be normal. It is a course I have played very often, so I am familiar with the layout, even though it was re-done recently. The KGA is a wonderful course.
“I was waiting to turn 18 and since my long-term plan is to play professional golf, I felt this was the ideal time. I wanted to start off right from the opening of the season,” she added.
The event at the re-done Karnataka Golf Association golf course also marks a landmark partnership between the Women’s Golf Association of India and the KGA, which is also the home of India’s top women’s pro, Sharmila.
The event billed as one of the ‘Majors’ of the WGAI Season 2012-13 carries a total prize purse of Rs 10 lakhs, the biggest so far in the history of women’s professional golf in India. The winner will take home Rs 2,62,500 and the runners-up will be richer by Rs 1,80,000.
Sharmila has been paired with Preetinder and local golfer, Rani Sonti, while Vani tees off with Saaniya Sharma and Seema Sobti.
Just under a year ago, Vani, while still an amateur, had won the fifth leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Tour by a whopping 10 shots — Nalini Singh Siwach was the top finishing pro at event — at the Golden Greens in Gurgaon.
Coached by DLF teaching pro Anitya Chand, Vani’s professional debut could well be the first step for a promising future.
Interestingly, local golfer Aditi Ashok, who is still an amateur, will also figure in the tournament.
Aditi beat Vani at the all-India Ladies Amateur final earlier this year and their rivalry will be interesting to watch.
Sharmila too will be a star attraction at the tournament.
“Playing at the KGA is always great. It is a course where I spend a lot of time and it is good to see the season starting off here.
The competition and the money is going up on the Tour and I am sure this will continue,” Sharmila said.
Smriti, one of India’s star pros, won seven of the 15 events last season. She topped the Money List while Nalini, who won three events, was second.
Neha was third and Sharmila fourth.
The next two events will also be held in Bengaluru, with the second leg at Clover Greens and the third leg at Prestige Golfshire, with a purse of Rs 5 lakhs each.