Germany’s Aline Krauter sealed her first Ladies European Tour title in style at the Hero Women’s Indian Open winning by five shots in Delhi on 15-under par.
Leading fellow rookie Sara Kjellker by two shots before the start of play, the German fired a third consecutive round of 68 at DLF Golf & Country Club to complete victory.
“I feel amazing,” Krauter said, who is the second German to win the event after Olivia Cowan’s last year. “It feels hard to put into words and I don’t think I can quite grasp what just happened. But looking down the 18th it’s such a special place. Hopefully I’ll be back next year to defend my title. It’s been such a great week.”
Playing alongside Kjellker in the final group, the tournament looked to have a shootout on its hands early on as the two rookies birdied the opening hole before Krauter dropped a shot on the 2nd to see her lead slip to one. With England’s Hannah Burke making a charge elsewhere, Krauter bounced back with a birdie on the par-3 3rd before giving another shot back on the 4th. But just as she had done all week, the 23-year-old soon stepped into a different gear, firing three birdies in a row on the 7th, 8th, and 9th to storm into a five-shot lead with Kjellker dropping two shots before the turn.
“It was definitely difficult,” Krauter said. “I made a few more putts today and my ball striking all week has been really solid. That really helped me around this golf course.”
Krauter would add birdies to her card on the 13th and 15th either side of a bogey, before the rookie extended her cushion to six shots coming down the last with a fabulous birdie on the signature 17th. Despite three-putting the final hole, a bogey sealed Krauter’s five-shot victory as she was met with a water shower from fellow Germans Leonie Harm, Polly Mack, Helen Tamy Kreuzer, and close friend Celine Herbin.
“My confidence is boosted now for sure,” Krauter said, who had a prolific amateur career winning The Women’s Amateur Championship in 2020. “Just knowing that I can compete and that I belong is great. Having that confirmed this week is amazing. I just started working with a mental this week and I think it’s paid off, so thank you to her.”
With the maiden win, Krauter, who has predominately played on the LPGA Tour this season, secures her LET status for 2024 and 2025 and jumps to 38th in the Race to Costa del Sol.
“It means the world to me,” the 23-year-old said, who also had to deal with having her driver shaft cracked on the flight over to India. “If someone would have told me that I was going to win this week and have my LET card for sure next year, and wouldn’t have had to go back to Q-School, I wouldn’t have believed them. I’m so excited to play on the LET next year!”
In solo second finished Kjellker on 10-under par who secures a spot at next week’s Aramco Team Series – Riyadh event. Home favourite Diksha Dagar ended the week in third on eight-under par after carding a round of 70 (-2) on Sunday. Burke finished solo fourth to all but secure her LET status for 2024 after jumping to 60th in the Race to Costa del Sol ranking.
For the final scores from the Hero Women’s Indian Open click here.