November 20th 2009, Gurgaon: Sharmila Nicollet, taking her bow as a professional golfer nearly upstaged the experienced Smriti Mehra before the latter birdied her final hole to win by a solitary stroke at the Rs 168,750 1st Leg of the Women’s Professional Golf Tour at the par-72 Classic Golf Resort here today.

Mehra who played to par today, tallied two-under 214 for the event to pocket the winner’s cheque of Rs 50,468. Nicollet finished with an aggregate of 215 to take home Rs 30,468. Nalini Singh Siwach who finished third at 221, earned Rs 20,470 for her effort. Saaniya Sharma finished fourth at 227 while Vandana Agarwal finished fifth at 240.

Mehra’s round included birdies on the first and seventh and bogeys on the fourth and sixth before she made the turn. Thereafter, India’s first and only representative on the prestigious Ladies PGA Tour bogeyed the 16th but avoided a play-off with Nicollet with a birdie finish to her round. “I am impressed with the way Sharmila played. It was great winning though,” said Mehra.

Though Mehra was the eventual winner, the star of the day was indeed Sharmila Nicollet. Testimony to this fact was her final round card of three under 69 which contained birdies on the fourth and seventh before she made the turn at two-under. Thereafter Nicollet dropped a shot on the tenth but a birdie on the following hole followed by an amazing eagle on the 14th put her back in contention. Post this however, Nicollet went on to drop shots on the 15th and 17th and despite a birdie finish to her round narrowly missed out on the rare distinction of winning her very first professional event. “I am delighted with the way I played but disappointed at mission out by such a small margin,” said Nicollet. “It was great competing against a legend like Simi Mehra though,” she added.