Diksha Dagar battled harsh weather to secure her first top-five finish of the 2026 season at the Australian Women’s Classic, closing with a 1-under 71 to finish fifth.
Playing in strong winds and intermittent rain on the Central Coast, Diksha produced one of the standout rounds of the day. She was one of only three players in the field to break par in the final round, underlining the quality of her effort in demanding conditions.
The Indian started brightly with birdies on the fourth and fifth holes to move into contention. A couple of dropped shots around the turn briefly stalled her momentum, but she responded with birdies on the 15th and 17th to close with a composed round and secure the best Indian finish of the week.
Pranavi Urs, who began the day in contention for a top-five result, slipped down the leaderboard after a final-round 78 to finish 14th. She struggled for rhythm through the round, mixing six bogeys with a lone birdie on the 15th.
The other two Indians in the field, Avani Prashanth and Hitaashee Bakshi, had missed the cut earlier in the week.
Australia’s Kelsey Bennett claimed the title and her maiden Ladies European Tour victory with a four-shot win at Magenta Shores Golf and Country Club. The 26-year-old handled the difficult conditions superbly, closing with a 1-under 71 to finish at 13-under for the tournament.
Meghan MacLaren and rookie Caley McGinty shared second place at 9-under after rounds of 74, while Thailand’s Trichat Cheenglab finished fourth at 7-under.
Diksha’s fifth place finish provided a strong start to her season and highlighted her ability to perform in challenging conditions.
