Guntas is youngest Indian to make cut at WAAP

 

 

 

GUNTAS Kaur Sandhu, who took a break fromherninthstandard examinationsback home, passed a different kind of a test, as she became the youngest Indian to make the cut at the eliteWomen’s Amateur AsiaPacific Championships golf tournament here. Guntas, who turned 14 on February 2, is makingherdebutattheWAAP,whichbegan in 2018. Playing in extremely windy conditions on a demanding layout, Guntas was often aggressive and played without fear at the picturesquebutchallengingHoianaShores Golf Club.

 

The tactics paid off for the tall youngster, who is just a month past her 14th birthday, as she shot 73-71 and made the cut comfortably in T-39th place. Three of the six Indians made the weekend. They were led by Mannat Brar (67-76) who survivedadisastrous start anda rough finish to be 1-over in Tied-30th. The other two were Guntas (73-71) at 2-over in Tied39th and Saanvi Somu (72-74), playing her second WAAP, was 4-over and on the cutline at T-50. Mannatopenedwithadoublebogey and a triple bogey in her first two holes and closed with a bogey and a double bogey. In between she had three birdies. Playingher fourthWAAP,she finallymade her first cut. Guntas made the cut on her debut and Saanvi made the weekend for the second straight time.

 

The other three Indians, Heena Kang (76-73), Zara Anand (76-74) and Kashika Misra (78-79) missed the cut, which fell at 4-over with 52 players making the grade. Right at the top of the leaderboard wasKorea’s Hong Sumin (65-67) at 10-underwith Australias Jazy Roberts (66-68) at 8-under tied with Malaysia’s Jeneath Wong(65-69. World No 9 amateur Soomin Oh (68-67)at 7-under was fourth.

 

The most impressive Indian player of the day was Guntas, who has little experience of ‘Links-like’ conditions with strongwind. “It was so difficult to play in such strongwind,butIloved thechallenge,”saidGuntas, whose father-cum-caddie, Gurpreet, doesnot even play golf. “I started playing golf at the age of aboutseven and I train with Mahesh Sir inChandigarh. Feroze Grewal, who I call ‘Mamu’, encouraged me to play golf andhe has also played for India.” “The only time I have played in somethinglike thiswasinScotlandwhenIplayedin US Kids European Championships inUnder-8manyyears ago.Iwas secondrunner-up.” When she came to the 14th tee, Guntas was 2-over for the round and fourover for thetournament andon thecutline. She played the tough final stretch well forbirdies on thePar-3 14th and thePar-5 18thfor an even par 71.