14-year-old Golf Prodigy Shines Amidst Tough Conditions in Vietnam
In a remarkable achievement, 14-year-old Guntas Kaur Sandhu became the youngest Indian golfer ever to make the cut at the prestigious Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) Championship. The tournament, hosted at the scenic yet challenging Hoiana Shores Golf Club in Da Nang, Vietnam, saw Sandhu demonstrate exceptional skill and determination despite facing harsh, windy conditions.Guntas, who recently celebrated her 14th birthday on February 2, displayed remarkable confidence, strategically playing an aggressive style that paid off. She shot impressive rounds of 73 and 71, comfortably securing her spot in the weekend rounds in a tied 39th place at two-over-par.
Indian Trio Progresses to Weekend Rounds
Out of the six Indian golfers participating, three advanced to the weekend stage of the WAAP Championship. Mannat Brar led the Indian contingent after recovering admirably from a difficult start. Despite opening her second round with a double bogey and a triple bogey, Mannat (67-76) managed to regain composure and secure a tied-30th spot at one-over-par. Remarkably, this is the first time Mannat, playing her fourth WAAP, has advanced past the cut stage.Joining Mannat was young sensation Guntas and seasoned campaigner Saanvi Somu. Saanvi (72-74), participating in her second consecutive WAAP Championship, navigated a challenging course to finish at four-over-par and barely made it through the cutline, ending the day tied at 50th.
Guntas Overcomes Adversity and Wind for Memorable Debut
Guntas, whose participation at WAAP meant taking a break from her ninth standard examinations back home, stood out with her composed performance under unfamiliar "Links-like" conditions. Reflecting on the challenging weather, she said, "It was so difficult to play in such strong wind, but I loved the challenge."Her father-cum-caddie, Gurpreet Sandhu, does not play golf himself but remains her steadfast supporter. Guntas attributes her golfing journey, which began at age seven, to training under Mahesh in Chandigarh and inspiration from Indian golfer Feroze Grewal, whom she affectionately calls 'Mamu.'
Her previous exposure to such conditions was limited to her participation many years ago at the US Kids European Championships in Scotland, where she finished as second runner-up in the Under-8 category.
Facing a critical moment on the 14th tee, Guntas was at risk, standing exactly on the cutline. Displaying tremendous composure, she managed birdies on the tough Par-3 14th and the challenging Par-5 18th, completing her second round at an even-par 71, ensuring her qualification.
Mixed Fortunes for the Remaining Indian Golfers
Not all Indian golfers shared the same fortune, however. Heena Kang (76-73), Zara Anand (76-74), and Kashika Misra (78-79) were unable to advance, narrowly missing the cut set at four-over-par, with only 52 golfers qualifying.Korean and Australian Golfers Dominate Top Spots
Meanwhile, at the top of the leaderboard, Korea’s Hong Sumin (65-67) maintained a commanding lead at ten-under-par, followed by Australia's Jazy Roberts (66-68) and Malaysia's Jeneath Wong (65-69), both tied at eight-under. World number 9 amateur Soomin Oh (68-67) occupied fourth place at seven-under-par.Mannat’s Rollercoaster Round Provides Valuable Lessons
Mannat Brar, the reigning All-India Ladies Amateur Champion from Pune, showcased resilience amidst adversity. After a disastrous opening in her second round, she rallied spectacularly with a streak of six pars and three birdies. However, the winds proved detrimental on the sea-facing 17th hole, leading to a bogey, followed by a double bogey on the 18th due to a costly three-putt. Despite finishing with a 76, Mannat remains optimistic, with two more rounds to regain lost ground.Similarly, Saanvi Somu had a nerve-wracking wait of over four hours after finishing her round with a birdie on the final hole, ultimately securing her place in the weekend’s action.
The WAAP Championship continues to highlight rising talent from across the Asia-Pacific, with India’s young golfers determined to leave their mark amidst challenging conditions.
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