Adaptable Avani Set for Siam Country Club Challenge

Pattaya, Thailand: It was almost exactly a year ago at the very event, in the 2021 edition of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) in Abu Dhabi, that Avani Prashanth got her first major exposure on the international platform.

In the year that has passed, much has changed. The Bangalore girl is richer in experience, she's grown taller in height and stature and above all attained a maturity that goes beyond her age of 16, that she just turned four weeks ago.

Developed by The R&A and the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC), the winner of this week’s WAAP has a wealth of big ticket starts awaiting them in the shape of two Major championships in 2023 – the AIG Women’s Open and Amundi Evian Championship – as well as the Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA) and the Hana Financial Group Championship.

The WAAP tournament, which was inaugurated in 2018, received another timely boost yesterday when Atthaya Thitikul, the first winner, soared to number one in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.

Meanwhile, over the past year Avani has risen from 157 to 115 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, and notched her first top-12 in a pro international event at the Hero Women’s Indian Open.

She’s also played in the ANWA, The R&A Women’s Amateur, the Queen Sirikit Cup, the World Amateur Team Championships and locked a place in the Indian team for the Asian Games, originally slated for 2022 but which will now take place in 2023.

At Siam Country Club this weel, Avani leads a young team of six players, four of whom, including herself, played at the 2021 WAAP. Avani finished tied 16th, followed by Sifat Sagoo (tied 25th), Kriti Chowhan (tied 34th) and Nishna Patel (missed cut). Mannat Brar and Ceerat Kang are playing the WAAP for the first time.

Of Avani’s 11 international appearances since the 2021 WAAP, 10 have been outside India. Among the famous venues she’s played are Augusta National, Carnoustie and Le Golf National.

“I have learned a lot from travelling and playing in different courses, different countries and in different conditions. I am looking forward to this week,” she said.

It’s not just Avani who has travelled long distances. Her shots, too, are travelling further than ever.

Her father, Prashanth, who often accompanies her, said: “I think her biggest gain has been the experience of adapting to different playing conditions, from links to parkland courses. After playing on some of the toughest courses she has become fearless and can adapt to all conditions.”

She gained significantly in distance thanks to an increased swing speed – up from 96-97 miles per hour to 101-102 miles per hour.

“Her ball-striking has become much better and she hits her long irons really well. Her wedge play has also got better,” said Prashanth.

Avani’s experience stands out in this company, though Sagoo, who played for India at the 2018 Asian Games, is now at Purdue University and plays a lot of college golf.

Nishna’s international exposure is limited to the WAAP last year and this year’s Women’s Amateur Team Championship in France. Kriti’s only outing was the 2021 WAAP. Like Mannat, she missed the cut at the Hero Women’s Indian Open, part of the Ladies European Tour.

That apart, most of the girls have played the domestic Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour, where Avani has won a few times and tallied up a bunch of top-five finishes.

Mannat says she’s inspired by Amandeep Drall, who two weeks ago came second at the Hero Women’s Indian Open in Gurugram. She often plays with Amandeep and picks her brains.

Like Avani, Kriti and Nishna, Ceerat is coached by Laurence Brotheridge, who takes lessons online from the northern English city of Leeds.

This is a young team with big dreams and this week will give them a lot to take back.

*Article by V. Krishnaswamy (@Swinging_Swamy)