India’s ace Golfer Sharmila Nicollet’s stature is growing with each sizzling performance. The way she played at Beijing Ladies Classic in China is a reflection of the fact. After finishing T-16 in the Ladies Hong Kong Open, the talented Golfer showed a lot of spunk to finish T-14 at the Le Coq Sportif Beijing Ladies Classic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nicollet, the first and only Indian to play on the China LPGA, had a share of the lead after the first day and was tied-2nd after the second, but revealed that she was still under the weather as she recovering from a bout of fever.

 

 

On the third and final day of the event, she had four bogeys on front nine, both back-to-back on second and third and then fifth and sixth, which meant she had dropped four shots in a span of five holes.

 

 

Here Twitter feed read: Body took a toll today. Nevertheless, lots of positives. Top 20 in Hongkong last week and Top 15 in Beijing. Finished under par totally. That was the goal. That’s progress. Lots to learn from and work on. Onto the next week in Evian!

 

 

She then went on a birdie spree with five straight birdies from fourth to eighth. The birdies dried up after that, but she stayed steady and did not drop any shots. She had 10 pars in a row and ended the day at 68.

 

 

 

 

"I played really well today. I could have had a lot more birdies on the back nine but I missed a lot of putts within 10 feet. I had one three-putt on the second hole, the only bogey I got today. I could get much lower but it is okay," said Sharmila, the Bangalore native who is playing full-time on the CLPGA Tour this year.

 

 

"Playing in China is great, close to home, a little bit tough with the language but I am getting used to it. The tour is very organized and takes good care of its players. The competition is very good as well. I am having fun. It's nice to be here."

 

 

Sharmila topped the stats in both driving accuracy and GIRs. She shares the lead with three Chinese players, two of them amateurs, Ji Yifan and Yin Xiaowei, besides pro Li Xiya and Thailand's Wanchana Poruangrong.

 

Sharmila was longest off the tee, with her longest drive reaching 262.5 metres, while she averaged 92.9 percent in driving and reached 88.9% greens in regulation. Though she had as many as seven one-putts, she needed 30 putts for the round.

 

It would be interesting to see how she performs in her next tournament.