Bengaluru golfer to figure in women's amateur meet
BENGALURU: Avani Prashanth, the country's top amateur, got a special invite to rub shoulders with the cream of the world's amateurs at the fifth edition of the Augusta National Women's Amateur in Augusta, USA, from April 3-6.
The 17-year-old Bengalurean, ranked No. 42 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, received the official invite from the Board of Governors, Augusta National Golf Club. Avani got an invite two years ago as well and finished a creditable 21st.
"It feels great to get the invite. After the Q-School (Ladies European Tour) fiasco, this was probably the only thing that was going to g et me peace for the next two months. I'm glad that I got it, can't wait to go there," Avani told TOI before leaving for Pattaya (Thailand) for the Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific beginning on Thursday (Feb 1).
Barring the poor show at the Q-School last month, Avani has been on top of her game in 2023, winning two big events and had a clutch of good finishes. And when the invite came through, the 11th grade student at Greenwood High International School wasn't surprised.
"Since I played well last year, won the Queen Sirikit Cup in Manila, then I won a tournament on the LET Access Series in Sweden, played well at the Indian Open and came fourth (individual) in the World Amateur Team Championships, I was definitely expecting it," said the teen golfer.
The 72 amateurs in the field will compete over 54 holes with a cut taking place after 36 holes. The top-30 and ties will advance to the final round to be played at the Augusta National Golf Club that hosts the prestigious Masters Tournament. For now, the Bengaluru golfing sensation, supported by the Karnataka Golf Association besides others, will train her guns on the WAAP that begins in three days' time.
