Mumbai, Feb 21 (IANS): Veteran golfer Smriti Mehra kept a resurgent Vani Kapoor at bay to win the third leg of the Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour which concluded at the Willingdon Sports Club here Friday.

Vani, who had slipped to fourth after the second round, came back strongly, giving Smriti a run for her money. However, it was the veteran who came out victorious as she edged past Vani by a single shot to win her first title this season.

Smriti played a steady round and returned with a final round score of two over 67 and a total of 195 while Vani returned with a Round 3 score of one under 64 and a total of 196.

Smriti carded four birdies on the fourth, fifth, seventh and 16th holes against six bogeys on the sixth, eight, ninth, 11th, 13th and 18th holes. Vani came back superbly to reach within striking distance of her third consecutive title. However, a bad back nine didn’t help her cause and she carded five birdies on the third, fourth, fifth, seventh and 15th holes and had bogeys on the first, 11th, 13th and 16th holes.

Pallavi Jain retained third position with a final round score of three over 68 and a total of 199. She carded three birdies as opposed to six bogeys.

Sharmila Nicollet disappointed and returned with a final round score of five over 70 and a total score of 200, managing to card just a single birdie and conceded four bogeys and a double bogey to finish fourth.

Neha Tripahi finished fifth with a final round score of three over 68 and a total of 205 while Vaishavi Sinha with a Round 3 score of five over 70 and total of 207, finished sixth.

Meghna Bal and Ankita Tiwana finished tied seventh with identical total scores of 208. Shweta Galande (211) finished ninth and Vandana Agarwal (212) finished tenth.

The Rs.5 lakh event is the third in the series of 14 this year.