Latest news with #JabraLadiesOpen
Hans India
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Hans India
Rookie Avani finishes as top Indian in 28th place at Jabra Ladies Open
Avani Prashanth finished as the highest-placed Indian player at the Jabra Ladies Open as a final round card of two-under 69 helped her to tie-28th in the event being played at the Evian Resort Golf Club near here in southeastern France. India's other players were Hitaashee Bakshi and Tvesa Malik at T-34 and Diksha Dagar at T-39. Czech player Sara Kouskova played a strong final round of four under par to secure her first LET title by two shots over her closest competitor, Shannon Tan. Kouskova carded 67 for a 10-under total and two better than Shannon (68) at 8-under. Avani has had a strong season and has failed to cut only twice this year in eight starts. Avani, a winner on her home Tour Hero Women's Pro Golf Tour (WPGT), while being an amateur, has had three Top-20 finishes in her rookie year. Avani had a great start to the final day at the Evian Resort Golf Club. Starting from the sixth, she made three birdies, and her first dropped shot was on the 11th, and another came on the 14th. On her next nine, she birdied the 16th, bogeyed the 17th, birdied the first, and totalled even par 213 for three days. Hitaashee Bakshi, who looked primed for a top 10 finish after her second-day score of five under par 66, struggled on the final day as she carded a six over par for the day and fell back to tied 34th in the standings. The round included seven bogeys and only one birdie for a card of 77 and a final score of two over par. Tvesa had a slow start to the tournament as she played four over par on the first day. However, stable performances on the second and third day with scores of 70 one under par helped her move up to tied 34 by the end of the event with a final score of two over par. Diksha carded a 73, two over par on the last day, to finish the event with a total score of three over par. Kouskova started the round on the front nine and made birdies on the seventh and eighth holes. She continued her strong run in the back nine with another birdie on the 10th hole. Despite a small stumble with a bogey on the 14th hole, Kouskova was able to seal the round with back-to-back birdies on the two final holes of the round. This win takes Kouskova into the third spot in the order of merit. On the second day leader Chiara Tamburlini finished the tournament in tied-5th. She continued to remain a beacon of consistency with another op-5 finish. Tamburlini moved into the fourth spot in the order of merit. The Order of Merit leader, Mimi Rhodes, finished tied 32nd in the standings despite her struggles on the second day with a score of 76, five over par for the round. On the final day, Rhodes played a 69 to bring her total score to one over par for the tournament. Cara Gainer of England secured a tied third place in the standings alongside Maha Haddioui of Morocco and remained second in the Order of Merit behind Mimi Rhodes.
Straits Times
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, May 25, 2025
Chinese Premier Li Qiang being greeted by Indonesian officials upon his arrival in Jakarta on May 24. PHOTO: AFP While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, May 25, 2025 China, Indonesia will promote 'true multilateralism', says Li China's Premier Li Qiang said on May 24 that China and Indonesia will promote 'true multilateralism', the official Xinhua news agency reported, as he landed in Jakarta on a two-day visit to South-east Asia's largest economy. China has intensified engagement with countries in the region since US President Donald Trump announced hefty import tariffs on its global trading partners earlier this year. Some levies have since been delayed, while China and the US agreed this month to pause some of their tariffs. Jakarta, whose biggest trading partner is China, has offered the US a number of concessions in a bid to soften tariffs against Indonesia. READ MORE HERE At West Point, Trump rips diversity and inclusion policies President Donald Trump ripped US diversity and inclusion policies, knocked Nato, and took credit for building up the military on May 24, in a campaign-style commencement speech at the prestigious West Point Military Academy in New York. Mr Trump, wearing a suit and his signature red 'Make America Great Again' cap, mixed advice to 'work hard' with a list of his top grievances about cultural and political issues while speaking to a stadium filled with cadets, family members and a largely supportive crowd. 'The job of the US Armed Forces is not to host drag shows, to transform foreign cultures,' Mr Trump said. 'The military's job is to dominate any foe and annihilate any threat to America, anywhere, anytime, in any place.' READ MORE HERE Rescuers say 9 children of Gaza doctor couple killed Gaza's civil defence agency said on May 24 that an Israeli strike in the southern city of Khan Younis killed nine children from the same family, with the Israeli army saying it was reviewing the reports. Agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal said civil defence crews retrieved 'the bodies of nine child martyrs, some of them charred, from the home of Dr Hamdi al-Najjar and his wife, Dr Alaa al-Najjar, all of whom were their children'. He added that Dr Hamdi al-Najjar and another son, Adam, were also seriously wounded in the strike on May 23. READ MORE HERE Shannon Tan finishes second at Jabra Ladies Open A second-placed finish at the Jabra Ladies Open in France on May 24 has given Singaporean golfer Shannon Tan a boost ahead of the July 10-13 Evian Championship, her first Major of the 2025 season. With both tournaments played at the Evian Resort Golf Club's The Champions Course in Evian-les-Bains, the 21-year-old is excited to return to the venue after a creditable showing this week. Her confidence stems from a remarkable comeback on the final day of the €300,000 (S$440,000) Jabra Ladies Open, as she carded a three-under 68 in the third round of the event for an eight-under 205 total, two strokes behind champion Sara Kouskova (67) of the Czech Republic. READ MORE HERE Dissident Iranian filmmaker wins Cannes top prize It Was Just An Accident by dissident Iranian director Jafar Panahi won the Palme d'Or for best film at the Cannes Festival on May 24. The highly political but wry film tells the tale of five ordinary Iranians confronted with a man they believe tortured them in jail. Panahi, who has been imprisoned twice in his home country and banned from making films, used his acceptance speech to urge Iranians to work towards freedom. READ MORE HERE Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Singapore golfer Shannon Tan finishes second at Jabra Ladies Open in boost ahead of Evian C'ship
Singaporean golfer Shannon Tan placed second at the Jabra Ladies Open, two strokes behind champion Sara Kouskova. PHOTO: TRISTAN JONES/LET SINGAPORE – A second-placed finish at the Jabra Ladies Open in France on May 24 has given Singaporean golfer Shannon Tan a boost ahead of the July 10-13 Evian Championship, her first Major of the 2025 season. With both tournaments played at the Evian Resort Golf Club's The Champions Course in Evian-les-Bains, the 21-year-old is excited to return to the venue after a creditable showing this week. Her confidence stems from a remarkable comeback on the final day of the €300,000 (S$440,000) Jabra Ladies Open, as she carded a three-under 68 in the third round of the event for an eight-under 205 total, two strokes behind champion Sara Kouskova (67) of the Czech Republic. Pleased with how she handled herself mentally, the world No. 126 said: 'Overall I am proud of the way I played this week. 'It is always nice to be in contention and while I missed out on the win here, there are positives to take away. 'I struggled on this course in my rookie year last year and finished tied-54th, so to be where I am today feels like a massive improvement which I can be proud of.' Tan, a one-time Ladies European Tour (LET) winner, entered the final round in third after climbing from tied-17th with a second-round 67, following an opening 70. But her third round got off to a rough start after she opened with a double bogey, before dropping another shot in the second hole. She bounced back by firing six birdies from holes No. 3 to 16 to claim a share of the lead with Kouskova. However, it was the 25-year-old Czech who held firm to secure her maiden title as she closed out her round with two birdies to secure the €45,000 top prize, while Tan managed a birdie and a bogey, bagging €27,000 for finishing second. Competition was stiff throughout the tournament. England's Cara Gainer (67) and Morocco's Maha Haddioui (67) were one stroke behind Tan in joint third, with five others within five strokes of the lead. Reflecting on her round, Tan said: 'It definitely wasn't the start I was hoping for... I reminded myself that it was still early and there was a lot of golf left to be played. 'After the first two holes, I tried to reset and calm myself down, going back to my mantra of playing one shot at a time and making sure I stick to my routine.' Tan is looking forward to a return to the venue for the US$8 million (S$10.3 million) Evian Championship, where she made her Major debut in 2024. While she did not progress to the weekend after coming in tied-120th, she made history a month later at the Women's British Open in Scotland, where she became the first Singapore woman to make the cut at a Major. 'Playing well on this course gives me more confidence heading into the Evian Championship. It is a challenging layout and I didn't do well last year, so I really wanted to come back this year and change that,' said Tan, who earned a spot in the 2025 edition based on her sixth placing in the 2024 LET Order of Merit. 'I am excited to return for the Major and hopefully build on what I have achieved this week. The course will also likely be set up differently for a Major, so there is still work to be done.' This is Tan's best finish since she ended joint-second at the Hero Women's Indian Open in October 2024. She started the 2025 season by finishing third at the Lalla Meryem Cup in Morocco, then in the top 15 on two occasions in six other LET events this year before the Jabra Ladies Open. Tan said: 'It is always tough to come that close, but at the same time, it is a good thing that I am putting myself in the position to contend more often. 'Each time I learn a little bit more, and I know I just need to be patient and keep doing what I am doing.' Kimberly Kwek joined The Straits Times in 2019 as a sports journalist and has since covered a wide array of sports, including golf and sailing. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Singaporean golfer Shannon Tan finishes second at Jabra Ladies Open in boost ahead of Evian C'ship
Singaporean golfer Shannon Tan placed second at the Jabra Ladies Open, two strokes behind champion Sara Kouskova. PHOTO: TRISTAN JONES/LET SINGAPORE – A second-placed finish at the Jabra Ladies Open in France on May 24 has given Singaporean golfer Shannon Tan a boost ahead of the July 10-13 Evian Championship, her first Major of the 2025 season. With both tournaments played at the Evian Resort Golf Club's The Champions Course in Evian-les-Bains, the 21-year-old is excited to return to the venue after a creditable showing this week. Her confidence stems from a remarkable comeback on the final day of the €300,000 ($440,000) Jabra Ladies Open, as she carded a three-under 68 in the third round of the event for an eight-under 205 total, two strokes behind champion Sara Kouskova (67) of the Czech Republic. Pleased with how she handled herself mentally, the world No. 126 said: 'Overall I am proud of the way I played this week. 'It is always nice to be in contention and while I missed out on the win here, there are positives to take away. 'I struggled on this course in my rookie year last year and finished tied-54th, so to be where I am today feels like a massive improvement which I can be proud of.' Tan, a one-time Ladies European Tour (LET) winner, entered the final round in third after climbing from tied-17th with a second-round 67, following an opening 70. But her third round got off to a rough start after she opened with a double bogey, before dropping another shot in the second hole. She bounced back by firing six birdies from holes No. 3 to 16 to claim a share of the lead with Kouskova. However, it was the 25-year-old Czech who held firm to secure her maiden title as she closed out her round with two birdies to secure the €45,000 top prize, while Tan managed a birdie and a bogey, bagging €27,000 for finishing second. Competition was stiff throughout the tournament. England's Cara Gainer (67) and Morocco's Maha Haddioui (67) were one stroke behind Tan in joint third, with five others within five strokes of the lead. Reflecting on her round, Tan said: 'It definitely wasn't the start I was hoping for... I reminded myself that it was still early and there was a lot of golf left to be played. 'After the first two holes, I tried to reset and calm myself down, going back to my mantra of playing one shot at a time and making sure I stick to my routine.' Tan is looking forward to a return to the venue for the US$8 million (S$10.3 million) Evian Championship, where she made her Major debut in 2024. While she did not progress to the weekend after coming in tied-120th, she made history a month later at the Women's British Open in Scotland, where she became the first Singapore woman to make the cut at a Major. 'Playing well on this course gives me more confidence heading into the Evian Championship. It is a challenging layout and I didn't do well last year, so I really wanted to come back this year and change that,' said Tan, who earned a spot in the 2025 edition based on her sixth placing in the 2024 LET Order of Merit. 'I am excited to return for the Major and hopefully build on what I have achieved this week. The course will also likely be set up differently for a Major, so there is still work to be done.' This is Tan's best finish since she ended joint-second at the Hero Women's Indian Open in October 2024. She started the 2025 season by finishing third at the Lalla Meryem Cup in Morocco, then in the top 15 on two occasions in six other LET events this year before the Jabra Ladies Open. Tan said: 'It is always tough to come that close, but at the same time, it is a good thing that I am putting myself in the position to contend more often. 'Each time I learn a little bit more, and I know I just need to be patient and keep doing what I am doing.' Kimberly Kwek joined The Straits Times in 2019 as a sports journalist and has since covered a wide array of sports, including golf and sailing. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Irish Independent
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
‘It's just about staying patient' – Conor Purcell sees good things ahead after solid rounds at Soudal Open
While he had back-to-back top-20 finishes in China in April, the Portmarnock rookie (27) has missed seven of 11 cuts and needs to see more positive results. He took a big step in that direction at the tree-lined Rinkven International in Antwerp, adding a 69 to his first-round 70 to share 21st on three-under at the halfway mark. 'My game actually feels a lot better than the results, and I think it's just about staying patient, knowing it's a long year and results will come if you just keep putting in the work,' said Purcell, who was eight shots behind Scotland's Ewen Ferguson. 'I feel like I'm starting to score relatively close to how I'm playing, and hopefully I can just push on. 'If I didn't have those two top 20s in China, I definitely would be more frustrated than I am. Knowing that the results are there, I know that the work I'm doing is good.' Ferguson shot a course record-equalling 64 to lead by three shots from England's Marco Penge, who shot 68, on 11-under. But if Purcell was guaranteed weekend work in Antwerp, Séamus Power was in danger of missing the cut in the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth. The West Waterford man shot an excellent, bogey-free, three-under 67, but after opening with a 73, he was one shot outside the projected one-under cut line. World number one Scottie Scheffler had 34 putts in a 71 that left him 10 shots behind early leader Ben Griffin, who shot 63, but he was safely through on one-under. On the Ladies European Tour, rookies Anna Foster and Annabel Wilson made the final day at the Jabra Ladies Open at Evian Resort. Foster was 26th on level par after a two-over 73, seven shots behind Swiss Chiara Tamburlini with Wilson 55th on four-over after a 76. Meanwhile, Meath's Daniel Mulligan (20) birdied four of his last eight holes and shot a three-under 69 to share 15th with Galway's Liam Nolan in the Danish Golf Challenge at Bogense. Nolan shot 70 to leave them eight shots behind Scotland's Calum Fyfe on five-under as the rest of the Irish missed the level par cut. In the Senior PGA at Congressional, Darren Clarke's two-under 70 left him just three shots behind early leader Cameron Percy on three-under.
