Lee-Ann, Laura Davies and Phatlum clash in Women’s Indian Open

GURGAON - Europes top-two Lee-Ann Pace and Laura Davies will take their battle for the Order of Merit to the wire when they clash on Indian soil in the Hero Honda Womens Indian Open next week.

The Indian open will be held at the DLF Golf and Country Club here Nov 11-13. As many as 123 players from 26 countries will participate in the event.

South Africa’s Lee-Anne Pace, who grabbed her second straight title in as many weeks, will be looking forward to her first Order of Merit title. Laura Davies, who has an enviable 73 titles worldwide will be looking forward to adding more silverware. Lee-Ann took over from Laura on top of the Order of Merit during her twin triumph in China.

Adding spice to the battle will be two-time defending champion Phatlum Pornanong of Thailand, currently leading the Order of Merit in Ladies Asian Golf Tour.

A bunch of other players who found their rhythm in the two weeks in China will also tee off in the event.

Pace won in a four-way playoff with USA’s Hannah Jun, Paraguay’s Julieta Granada and Netherlands’ Christel Boeljon in the Suzhou-Taihu Ladies Open at the Suzhou-Taihu International Golf Club.

Pace will be competing in next week’s Korean Ladies Open in Cheju Island before coming to India. Paraguays Julieta Granada, who was tied for second is also scheduled to play at Gurgaon.

Other players with good finishes in China included two-time Indian Open winner, Phatlum Pornanong, who will defend her title in India. She was tied eighth along with Korean Jeehae Lee and Kylie Walker of Wales.

Indias Smriti Mehra tied for 55th, while young Sharmila Nicollet missed the cut.

Lee-Ann is scheduled to play for the first time in the $300,000 Indian Open.