India’s 16-year-old golfer Avani Prashanth created history by winning the Queen Sirikit Cup 2023 at the Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club in the Philippines on February 24.
This is a first for an Indian golfer to win the prestigious regional amateur championship that has been held since 1979. Prashanth’s result also helped the Indian team finish second behind South Korea, in the best-ever showing by Indian female golfers at the competition.
Avani Prashanth is currently ranked 97th in the world amateur golf rankings. She returned a four-day aggregate of 16-under 272 (68-66-70-68), a record-breaking 10 shots ahead of second-placed New Zealander Fiona Xu, who managed a six-under 282. She hit four birdies in the back nine on the fourth day for a strong finish. Filipino Rianne Mikhaela Malixi 283 (68-73-68-74) and Korea’s Hyunjo Yoo 283 (70-71-71-71) were tied third at five-under.
In the team event, Prashanth’s team-mates Vidhatri Urs 297 (74-77-72-74) finished Tied 19th while Nishna Patel 303 (80-78-74-75) ended T30.
The South Korean team of Kim Min-sol, Yoo Hyun-jo and Seo Kyo-rim had a 72-hole team total of 12-under 564 – five strokes clear of India. Japan came third, a further four shots behind.
