Aditi Ashok got here one step from successful a maiden identify at the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) in the United States after completing tied 2d within the JM Eagle LA Championship at Wilshire Country Club, Los Angeles on Sunday.
The 25-year-old, who just about gained a medal on the Tokyo Olympics earlier than completing fourth, had a super event. She was once the 36-hole chief and carded 4-under 67 within the ultimate spherical, which noticed a three-way tie for the lead with Lin Xiyu of China and Hannah Green of Australia at 9-under 275 for the event.
Aditi’s identify hopes had been dashed at the first playoff gap at the par-3 18th after a 15-foot putt lipped out. Green and Lin birdied and the Australin gained on the second one further gap with a tap-in after Lin ignored her par putt. It was once the 3rd LPGA identify for Green, who gained the 2019 Women’s PGA.
“Overall it was a good week,” mentioned Aditi, who’s at the LPGA for the 7th season. “I’ve by no means performed on this place at the LPGA, to be close to the lead at the first day and keep there the entire event. I’m proud of the best way I performed.”
Aditi carded a bogey-free 5-under first spherical adopted by way of a 1-under 70 to steer and make her first lower at the excursion in 2023. Power, accuracy and striking was once all there in that 2d spherical – she hit over 250 yards off the tee, did not pass over a fairway and wanted simplest 27 putts. Her Sunday spherical featured 5 birdies, and however for the lone bogey on seventeenth, she may neatly have gained.
It has been a super yr thus far for Aditi, who gained her first Ladies European Tour (LET) tournament for 5 years on the Magical Kenya Ladies Open in February. With 3 different top-10 finishes, Aditi leads the LET’s Race to Costa Del Sol.
She has spoken of her low season paintings paying off, particularly the development off the tee. “Just working on swing speed in the off-season, gained a lot of yardage, so that’s definitely helped,” she mentioned.
“And simply running on being extra constant in the course of the recreation. I modified my irons again to what I used to be the usage of a pair years in the past and I’m extra happy with that, in order that’s helped this week.”