India’s Aditi Ashok, who registered her first top-10 finish as a professional last fortnight, is ready for another shot at the Spanish Golf Open, when she tees up for the Andalucia Costa del Sol Open de Espana Femenino golf tournament, on Wednesday.
The 18 year old young and budding athlete has been making tremendous progress in her game. The Bengaluru rookie has been impressive in her recent appearances and is one of the bright spots in the Indian Golfing circuits. In the Spanish Golf Open she will be in the first group to tee off with French duo, Emilie Piquot and Anaelle Carnet.
Aditi made history by being the youngest and the first Indian to win Lalla Aicha Tour School by the virtue of which she secured her place for Ladies European Tour card for the 2016 season. On a professional front she has won the 2011 Hero Professional Tour Leg 1 and Hero Professional Tour Leg 3.
Aditi, who won the LET Q-School to become the first Indian to win a Q-School among men or women, also took part in the Olympics and was in top-10 for the first two days, catching the eye of legendary Gary Player, who then went to the range to watch the Indian practice.
Player was all praise for the youngster, praising her attitude and approach towards the game. He also predicted that she was a player who has a long career ahead.
Aditi is currently ranked 43rd on the LET Order of Merit and a top-80 finish will keep her card open for next year. Her best performance of the year has been that she secured ninth position at ISPS Handa European Ladies Masters in Germany earlier this month.
Meanwhile, this week’s field includes 17 Spanish players who are ready to battle for their home title as part of a field of 126 international world class competitors at Aloha Golf Club.
This year, the Spanish contingent is headed by local star Azahara Muñoz, the multiple Solheim Cup player from San Pedro del Alcantara in Malaga, who recently represented Spain at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. She has won three titles on the LET, including the Madrid Ladies Masters in 2009 on her professional debut.
Although Azahara finished 12th in Tenerife two years ago, she will be playing in more familiar surroundings close to home this week.
