Aditi Ashok finishes second on LPGA after playoff miss
Aditi Ashok on Sunday moved one step closer to winning her maiden Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) title in the US after finishing tied-second at the JM Eagle LA Championship at the Wilshire Country Club in Los Angeles.
The 25-year-old, who almost won a medal at the Tokyo Olympics before finishing fourth, had a stellar tournament. She was the 36-hole leader and carded a 4-under 67 in the final round, setting up a three-way tie with China’s Lin Ziyu and Australia’s Hannah Green for the tournament at 9-under 275.
Aditi’s title hopes were dashed when she missed a 15-foot putt on the first playoff hole of the par-3 18th. Green and Lynn made birdies and the Australian won with a tap-in on the second extra hole after Lynn missed a par putt. It was the third LPGA title for Green, who won the 2019 Women’s PGA.
“Overall it was a good week,” said Aditi, who is on the LPGA for her seventh season. “I’ve never played in this position on the LPGA, to be near the lead on the first day and to be there the whole tournament. I’m happy with the way I played.”
Aditi carded a bogey-free 5-under in the first round followed by a 1-under 70 to make her first cut on tour in 2023. The tee didn’t miss a fairway and required only 27 putts. She had five birdies in her Sunday round, but for a single bogey on the 17th, she could have won.
It has been the best year ever for Aditi, who won her first Ladies European Tour (LET) event for five years at the magical Kenya Ladies Open in February. With three other top-10 finishes, Aditi takes the LET race to the Costa del Sol.
He has said his off-season work has paid off, specifically the improvement from the tee. “Just working on my swing speed in the off-season, gained a lot of yardage, so that definitely helped,” she said.
“And just working on being more consistent through the game. I changed my irons back a few years ago and I’m more comfortable with it, so this week has helped.
