By IANS
Ayrshire (Scotland) : Vaishavi Sinha, one of India’s leading young women golfers finished fourth in the girls’ segment at the prestigious Duke of York Young Champions Trophy at Dundonald Links in Ayrshire, Scotland.
Vaishavi’s teammate Rashid Khan was 12th in the boys’ division in the tournament, which was held last week.
While Vaishavi shared fourth place in the separate girls’ event, seven shots adrift of Giulia Molinaro, Khan was 12th and nine shots behind Italian Boys’ champion Claudio Vigano, who ensured an Italian double.
Khan showed his inexperience when he opened with a nine over par 81 but then carded an impressive level par 72 before concluding with a 76 in windy conditions during the final afternoon.
Vaishavi produced one of the most consistent performances among the 48-strong field, made up of Boys’ and Girls’ champions from all over the world. She started with two 75s before concluding with a 78 that saw her finish on the same mark as Rashid Khan, South African Boys’ champion Johan de Beer and Norwegian Girls’ champion Rachel Raastad.
“It has been great fun,” said Khan, who got into golf through his uncle, Mohammed Maqbool, a professional at Delhi Golf Club. “I found the conditions a bit strange at first but would like to think I will do better if I get the chance to play again.”
John Simpson, formerly manager of Nick Faldo and a founder of the event alongside the Duke of York, paid tribute to both competitors and said, “Both Vaishavi and Rashid played some fantastic golf when you consider neither has ever been to Britain before.”
“When the Duke of York Young Champions Trophy started in the early years of this millennium, it was primarily a British and European event, but this year we had representatives from as far as India, South Africa, Canada, and I’d like to think the event will continue to grow in the future,” said Simpson.
The Duke of York Young Champions tournament is a 54-hole contest for champion boys and girls under the age of 18 from countries invited for the event. It is a mixed event but there are separate boys and girls winning lists. There were 48 players from 28 countries.