17-year-old Aditi Ashok wins European Q-School

Marrakech Morocco Aditi Ashok rounded off a dream week with a birdie that gave her a comprehensive threeshot win on the European Tours Lalla Aicha Tour School Final QualifierAditi Ashok PicGetty ImagesAditi just 17 and still an amateur becomes the first Indian men or women ever to win a Qualifying School event for an international Tour In her final round Aditi Ashok had two bogeys in first three holes but then with four birdies and carded twounder 70 in a tensionpacked fifth to total a whopping 23under while Danish golfer Daisy Nielsen 66 finished second at 20under Aditis earlier rounds included a record 10under 62 in the third round and she was under par on each of the five daysThe win gives Aditi Ashok full playing rights for 2016 and will be the only Indian to have that on Ladies European Tour Before Aditi another Bangalore golfer Sharmila Nicollet held playing rights on Ladies European Tour but this year she failed to get her card An elated Aditi said Its an amazing feeling because Icame into the tournament obviously wanting to give myself a chance to win but also just wanting to play consistent enough to get a card Winning it and getting a card is just that much better I could have played a bit better today and shot in the 60s but I won so I guess its fineAditi was delighted to be among the pros and said Yes Ive always wanted to be a professional because I just love playing golf Its been my dream ever since I was a kid so its great to make the first step in getting there Im really happy Im just 17 but Im going to try and do my best every week and hopefully have a good rookie year and build my career from thereAditi started somewhat tentatively with bogeys on second and third but then steadied From the sixth hole I was going for birdies and I had quite a few good putts that just narrowly missed the hole so six seven eight nine I knew that I could recover from my two bogeys It was unfortunate that Karolin made a double bogey onthe ninth but she had a difficult lie in the bunker I guess that sort of helped me a little bit and gave me a cushion with her being two back I made a birdie on 11 and I kept trying again I made one on 15 and I think by then that was good enoughTalking of her finish with a birdie she said On 18 there was a lot of wind coming in and I underestimated the wind so it ended up four yards in front It was a front pin so I was just playing a few feet to the hole but it just went in so it was lucky there Having taken to golf at a very early age and encouraged by her parents father Ashok who caddies for her and mother who often accompanies her Aditi has played for India from the time she was 10In September 2011 she became the youngest amateur at 13 years and five months to win a pro event at the Hero Womens Pro Tour event in her home town Bangalore She has represented India from the age of 12 At 12 she was the youngest to play for India at the Queen Sirikit Cup as India finished fourth She also played at the Asian Games in 2014 and now aims of playing the Rio Olympics next yearIn 2015 Aditi won numerous titles among which were St Rule Trophy and Ladies British Amateur Open Stroke Play Championship She also played in several Ladies European Tour events as an amateur notably finishing as the low amateur three times in the Hero Womens Indian Open in 2012 2014 and 2015 at T8th T14th and T13th respectively She was also the first Indian to play in the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters where she finished 38thIn the final stage at Samanah Golf Club in Marrakech today as 67 competitors from 29 different countries vie for Ladies European Tour Membership in 2016 The qualifiers started with 241 players competing over five weeks of the Lalla Aicha Tour School including a record four PreQualifiers the top 30 players and those tied at the end of todayiquests fifth and final round of Final Qualifying earned the Tour card