Indian Amateur Avani Prashanth, wins professional event in Sweden
25 Aug 2023
by Amit Pandey of AmateurGolf.com
see also: Avani Prashanth Rankings
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Avani Prashanth (LET Access Series Photo)
16-year-old Avani Prashanth, who is ranked 101st on the Golfweek/Amateur Golf Rankings, shot 72-71-67 to win the Ahlsell Final at Elisefarm, a pro tournament on the LET Access Series in Sweden.
Prashanth's score of 6-under was just enough to edge out the Swedish pair of Isabell Ekstrom and amateur Matilda Bjorkman, both of whom posted matching scores of 5-under.
Prashanth entered the final round at 1-under, four strokes behind Ellie Gower of England at 5-under. After a shaky start with two bogeys in her first four holes, Prashanth managed to put up an even-par 36, later, she gained control with a blistering back-nine of 5-under 31, which consisted of consecutive birdies on No. 11 and 12, followed by an eagle on No. 13 and a birdie on No. 17 which was vital for her win later in the day.
It's surreal winning this week," Prashanth said. "After my rocky start to finish, five-under-par is great, and this is my first professional win on international soil. The wind completely switched on us today, which really made the first four holes super long and tough to play.
While the first four played long, a good number played shorter.
So, after nine, I came back to par and then saw the wind was down in the back nine, and then I really took advantage from there on," Prashanth said.
This was Prashanth's second start of the season on the LET Access Series, following a tied-50th finish at the PGA Championship Gothenburg last week. Additionally, Prashanth has also registered a tied-9th finish at the Magical Kenya Open, a pro event on the Ladies European Tour, earlier in February.
Prashanth won the Queen Sirikit Cup in Manila early in the year, and now as her eyes set on being the youngest golfer ever to represent India at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, next month.
Going forward, Prashanth has plans for turning pro as she has her eyes set on the Paris Olympics in 2024.
The Ladies European Tour also recently granted Prashanth an invitation to participate in the 2023 LET Qualifying tournament later in 2023, a year before she reaches the minimum age of 18, otherwise stipulated for participants.
This paves the way for Prashanth to join the paid ranks, should she win her playing rights for Europe and begin a new chapter in her promising career.