Sharmila
Nicollet

Biography

Sharmila had an impressive amateur career, winning two tournaments including the 2008 Lades All-India Open Amateur Golf Championship. Her style of play and aptitude for the game left an impression on a number of knowledgeable golfing personalities, including England’s Laura Davies, who she partnered as a 16 year old amateur during a special Emaar - MGF Challenge Match ahead of the 2007 Ladies European Tour event that was held in India.
 
She opted to turn her back on prestigious US university scholarships to follow her dream of becoming a successful professional golfer - turning professional in 2009 and joining the Women’s Golf Tour in India (the “WGAI”). She quickly found professional success at both domestic and international levels – two WGAI wins and a top 10 finish in a Thai Ladies Pro Tour event in Bangkok.

2010 saw her consolidate her position on the WGAI Tour by winning the 2009/10 Order of Merit and then winning four further events to go into 2011 on top of the 2010/11 Order of Merit standings. Her home fans also saw her perform well in the tri-sanctioned Hero Honda Women’s Open where she finished the top Indian golfer at T23, with the low score of the day in the final round.

She gained her Ladies European Tour card for 2012 after making the top 30 at qualifying school via a dramatic play-off. Sharmila was leading after two rounds on -6 but fell to +7 and a tie for 29th place. Seven players were left competing for two remaining places and Sharmila secured her card with a birdie on the third play-off hole.