India’s Aditi Ashok wins 2023 Magical Kenya Ladies Open at Vipingo

India’s Aditi Ashok completed a superb wire-to-wire performance to win the 2023 Magical Kenya Ladies Open at the PGA Baobab Course at Vipingo Ridge. Ashok carded a final round of one over 74 to complete the job on 12-under par 280, nine shots ahead of second placed duo of Thailand’s April Angurasaranee and England’s Alice Hewson.

She was out in 37 on the front nine courtesy of a birdie at the par-4 1^st and having dropped a shot at the par-3 8^th where she found the water off the tee. Ashok navigated the back nine steadily closing with a 37 courtesy of a birdie at the par-5 11^th and bogeys on the par-5 15^th and the short par-3 17^th.

Ashok made her intentions clear early in the tournament when she opened her challenge with an emphatic round of 67 – four clear of the field. She widened the gap on the second day after carding 70 and followed it with an impressive 69 yesterday to set the stage for her coronation.

Speaking after clinching the win Ashok said: “It has been a great week. My off-season and hard work has paid off this week. I have worked a lot with my coach and my fitness team back home over two months. I feel I have gotten back to where I was maybe a couple of years ago.”

Today’s win takes her tally in the Ladies European Tour to four, following her victories at the Hero Women’s Indian Open (2016), Qatar Ladies Open (2017) and the FBM Ladies Open in November 2017. She finished second at the inaugural Magical Kenya Ladies Open in 2019.

Angurasaranee ended her campaign on 3-under par 289, to mark her best finish at a Ladies European Tour tournament. Defending champion Esther Henseleit from Germany saw her hopes of grabbing a three-peat shattered after posting 78 today for a total of four-over par 296, leaving her tied in 17^th place.

Kenya’s Naomi Wafula – who made history by becoming the first Kenyan to make the cut at the Ladies European Tournament- finished in 56^th position. Only six players posted par or better underlining the tough course conditions as the Vipingo course experienced strong winds and humid weather.