Chennai: Lavery Kumar, the schoolgirl from Delhi, despite going astray in the final round, clinched the Open title in the Gold division of the Madras Ladies Golf championship, the Indian Golf Union season opener, here on Friday.

The Convent of Jesus and Mary school student grossed 302 for four rounds and her seven-stroke overnight lead came in handy on a day when her form seemed to desert her.

Lavery, who won a special prize for her round of 73 on Thursday, finished ahead of her two Delhi mates, Shruti Khanna (310) and Shreya Ghei (313).

Lavery, who won the Noida Open last year and was fourth in the British Open Junior championship, said: "I am delighted to win the season's opener, though I played badly on the back nine on Friday after being the tournament leader for earlier three rounds. I intend playing in all the tournaments in the circuit this year and continue to improve upon my points on order of merit of the IGU.

"This is possible only if my school authorities allow me to take off from studies when the events are held."

Akriti Singh won the Nett division with 279 while Lavery Kumar aggregated 286 for four rounds in this category.

In the Silver Division, Premalatha from Chennai took the honours with a total of 351, just two strokes ahead of Arya Tikenekar from Pune.

In the Nett Category of Silver Division, Chennai's S Lakshmi topped with 286, followed by Arya (289), who however won the Stable Ford prize with 42 points. The best putt prize over the three rounds went to Uma Hataria (87 pts) from Chennai. IANS