Ridhima Dilawari Clinches 'Hero Shot' Glory; Sanaa Nuutinen Dominates Pro-Am
Ridhima Dilawari claims the top prize in the Hero Shot contest, while Sanaa Nuutinen leads the Hero Pro-Am ahead of the Women's Indian Open.
The excitement is building up for the Women's Indian Open, and the preliminary events have already delivered high-octane drama. India's Ridhima Dilawari emerged as the champion of the thrilling 'Hero Shot' contest, outlasting a field of elite golfers to secure the top prize of USD 4,000.
The Battle for the Hero Shot
The Hero Shot competition was played in a high-pressure knockout format with a total prize purse of USD 10,000. In a gripping final, Ridhima Dilawari faced off against Asian Games gold medallist and Hero MotoCorp brand ambassador Pranavi Urs. Dilawari's precision paid off, leaving Urs to take home the runner-up prize of USD 2,000.
The road to the final was challenging, with the competition structured to test accuracy and speed:
- Round of 8: Players hit from 90 yards from the hole, with a strict 60-second time limit to land up to nine shots for points.
- Semi-Finals: The distance increased to 100 yards, requiring six shots for eligibility, though the time limit was removed.
- The Final: The ultimate test took place from 110 yards, again requiring six shots to earn points.
Other notable participants included defending HWIO champion Shannon Tan and Chiara Tamburlini, both of whom were knocked out in the semi-finals. Vani Kapoor and Diksha Dagar also featured in the quarter-final round.
Sanaa Nuutinen Triumphs in Hero Pro-Am
While Dilawari dominated the shot contest, Finnish golfer Sanaa Nuutinen showcased her leadership and skill by winning the Hero Pro-Am. Nuutinen, who has competed on the LPGA and Ladies European Tour (LET), captained a team consisting of amateurs Devendar Pal Singh, Satnam Arora, and Gurnam Arora.
The team secured the top spot with an impressive combined score of 34-under. Following closely was two-time LET winner Diksha Dagar, who paired with Hero MotoCorp CEO Harshavardhan Chitale, Veenu Bansal, and Inderjit Singh to finish at 30-under. Although Chiara Tamburlini's team also finished at 30-under, they were relegated to third place following a countback.
Spot Prizes and Long Drives
The event also featured several skill-based challenges that kept the spectators engaged:
- Straight Drive: Kundan Kumar won on Hole 1 by landing his shot perfectly on the line.
- Closest to the Pin: Sachin Anand claimed victory on Hole 5 with a shot landing 12 feet, 3 inches away, while Kabul Chawla won on Hole 16, landing his ball within 8 feet.
- Kingfisher Long Drive: On Hole 15, Nandita Kumar led the women's category with a drive of 201 yards, while Saurabh Uppal dominated the men's category with a massive 259-yard drive.