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USA Today
15-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Masters, U.S. Open low amateur mounts major comeback to win Korn Ferry Tour event
The annual Korn Ferry Tour event at TPC Colorado may have helped set the stage for a new PGA Tour star. Rising pro golfer Neal Shipley put together the largest final round comeback in the event's history, firing an opening-nine 29 en route to a final-round 64 (8-under) to win The Ascendant presented by Blue on July 13. Shipley earned his second KFT win this year, finishing at 18-under par to all but lock up a spot on the PGA Tour next season. What a way to do it, too. Trailing by seven shots through three rounds, the low amateur at the 2024 Masters and U.S. Open came out hot on a sweltering summer day in Berthoud. Shipley birdied his first three holes and four of the first five before eagling the par-4 sixth and finishing with another birdie on No. 9 for a remarkable front-side 29. That instantly vaulted him atop the leaderboard heading into the back nine. That's because 54-hole leader Ross Steelman faltered with a first-nine 40 and final-group partner Kevin Dougherty couldn't muster enough birdies in a closing 69. Shipley cooled off coming home, surviving a double-bogey on the mammoth 773-yard par-5 13th hole to card a back-nine 35. With a birdie (and a vigorous fist pump to punctuate it) on the 18th hole, he was in at 18-under. But since he was in the fifth-to-last group nearly an hour before the leaders, Shipley had to await the final pairings for nearly an hour. While Dougherty and Jorge Fernández Valdés had chances, neither could birdie any of the final three holes at TPC Colorado to finish in a tie for second at 17-under. Shipley entered the event 10th in the Korn Ferry Tour standings this season. Three-time winners or top-20 finishers at season's end are guaranteed a promotion to the PGA Tour. The former Ohio State standout shouldn't have to worry about that now. After this win and his April triumph at the LECOM Suncoast Classic, Shipley is up to fourth on the KFT points list and in commanding position to earn his tour card. KFT money and points leader Austin Smotherman finished in a tie for fourth at 14-under, along with Steelman, Zach Bauchou, Cooper Dossey and Pierceson Coody. Former Ascendant champion Zecheng Dou (2022 winner) tied for 12th at 11-under. Local favorite Tom Whitney, an Air Force Academy graduate and former Fort Collins resident, led after 36 holes but faltered over the weekend and finished tied for 37th at 7-under par. Shipley's grand finale was indicative of a rollercoaster week at TPC Colorado. Despite his impressive final round, his four-round total of 17-under (270) marked the first time in The Ascendant's seven editions that the 72-hole event scoring record wasn't set or matched. Not that it will matter much to Shipley, a popular winner well known among golf fans after his amateur success last year at Augusta National and Pinehurst No. 2 in major championships. It's not hard to envision the 24-year-old rapidly ascending in the PGA ranks like Will Zalatoris, the 2020 TPC Colorado champ who parlayed that success to three runner-up finishes and seven top-10 finishes at major championships from 2020 to 2022. Here are all seven winners to date in The Ascendant at TPC Colorado: Chris Abshire covers high school and community sports for the Coloradoan, part of the USA Today Network.
India.com
04-07-2025
- General
- India.com
Meet Avani Chaturvedi, first Indian woman to fly fighter jet solo, she hails from..., completed her training from...
Women all over the world are busting stereotypes and abolishing the limiting beliefs of what was formerly thought to be impossible. Among these inspirational women stands Avani Chaturvedi, the first Indian woman to fly a fighter jet. Flying Officer Avani Chaturvedi made history by becoming the first Indian woman fighter pilot to fly solo. Chaturvedi flew a MiG-21 Bison in her first training solo sortie, in Jamnagar, Gujarat. Chaturvedi is one of the three in the first batch of female pilots, besides Bhawana Kanth and Mohana Singh, who were inducted into the Indian Air Force fighter squadron on June 18, 2016. Interestingly enough, the MiG-21 Bison, which Avani Chaturvedi trained to fly, has the world's record for the highest speed of take-off and landing at 340 km/h. Avani hails from the Rewa district in Madhya Pradesh. Avani hails from the Rewa district of Madhya Pradesh. On June 18, 2016, she was declared India's first woman combat pilot, along with her fellow trailblazers Mohana Singh and Bhawana Kanth. The historic induction of the trio into the Indian Air Force fighter squadron was formally conducted by then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. Whilst Avani became famous by being the first one of the three women in the trials to fly a solo sortie in a fighter jet, both Mohana and Bhawana completed their respective fighter pilot training successfully as well and are now part of India's growing fleet of women combat aviators. This change occurred as their training began in January that same year, marking a revolutionary step to gender equality in the armed forces. The three women, Avani Chaturvedi, Mohana Singh, and Bhawana Kanth, were commissioned as flying officers into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force in June 2016. The induction of the three pilots was made on an 'experimental basis' for an initial period of five years, marking a historic turn inthe armed forces' gender integration policies. Avani Chaturvedi completed her training at the Air Force Academy in Hyderabad. She pursued her schooling from Deoland, a small town in the Shahdol district of Madhya Pradesh. In 2014, she earned a Bachelor's degree in Technology from Banasthali University in Rajasthan and successfully cleared the Indian Air Force entrance examination Avani was inspired to join the Indian Air Force by her brother, who is in the Indian Army. She joined a flying club during her college years, which seemed a natural fit and ultimately paved the way for Avani to become one of India's first fighter pilots.
Hans India
15-06-2025
- General
- Hans India
Op Sindoor a testament to our unparalleled prowess: IAF chief
Hyderabad: IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, on Saturday said that Operation Sindoor, launched after the Pahalgam terror attack, stands as a shining testament to the unparalleled prowess of the Indian Air Force. This operation demonstrated IAF's capability to deliver swift, precise and decisive blows to the enemy. Addressing the Combined Graduation Parade (CGP) at the Air Force Academy, Dundigal near here, Singh also said the Operation Sindoor showcased exceptional coordination, synergy and integration within the armed forces. He called upon the newly commissioned officers to keep furthering the spirit of unity as they grow in service. He said the graduating officers, as the future of the IAF, must understand that the Air Force has been and will always remain the first responder. 'It is our collective responsibility to live up to the trust placed in the Indian Air Force by every citizen of India, and we must be ready and prepared for this,' Singh said. Observing that the battlefield is going to be more and more complex, he said the young officers would need to continuously 'train and retrain' to succeed in future conflicts. With the Indian Air Force fast evolving into an aerospace force, many young officers will lead the nation's foray into space, he said. These challenges will require them to be totally committed, focused, innovative, and passionate about their job, he said. Singh also exhorted the graduating officers to focus on physical and mental fitness and personality development through a healthy lifestyle. The event commemorated the successful completion of the pre-commissioning training of flight cadets across various branches of the Indian Air Force. During the ceremony, the IAF chief conferred the 'President's Commission' to the graduating trainees. The ceremony included presentation of 'Wings' upon successful completion of training to the flight cadets of the IAF, officers of the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and an officer from Vietnam.
Time of India
14-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
From skating rinks to skies: Bhopal's Tushita Singh joins IAF as flying officer
Bhopal: In a proud moment for Bhopal, Flying Officer Tushita Singh, a national-level athlete and former Asian Games participant, has been commissioned into the Indian Air Force (IAF) as a transport pilot. Her journey—from a childhood dream nurtured in the bylanes of Bhopal to the skies above India—stands as a powerful testament to determination, discipline, and silent perseverance. Tushita's aspirations were once dismissed by her family as a passing fancy. But growing up in a modest household with no military background, she remained undeterred. Instead, she doubled down on her ambition, fueled by stories of aerial heroism and a relentless drive for excellence. Academically sound and athletically gifted, she excelled in skating, football, and tennis, eventually representing India at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou (2023) as part of the women's soft tennis team—facing formidable opponents from Japan, China, Mongolia, and Vietnam. That same fighting spirit carried her through the demanding training at the Air Force Academy, where she topped Stage-I flying training and led the order of merit. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trouver la stabilité pendant les fluctuations du marché [tout apprendre] eToro Market Updates En savoir plus Undo Today, her commissioning is not just a personal milestone but also a beacon of inspiration for young women from non-military backgrounds. Her commissioning took place during the Combined Graduation Parade (CGP) held at the Air Force Academy (AFA), Dundigal, Hyderabad, marking the culmination of rigorous pre-commissioning training for cadets of both flying and ground duty branches. Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), served as the Reviewing Officer and conferred the President's Commission to the 254 graduating cadets—including both men and women. The ceremony was marked by grandeur, including a precision march past, oath-taking, and enthralling performances by the Akash Ganga skydiving team, the Air Warrior Drill Team, and the Suryakiran Aerobatic Team. Fly-pasts by Pilatus PC-7 MkII, Hawk, Kiran Mk-1, and Chetak aircraft added a stirring finale to the morning. The Air Chief Marshal praised the officers for their dedication and immaculate performance, reminding them of the evolving nature of modern warfare and the IAF's pivotal role as the first responder in times of national crisis. Among other top performers, Flying Officer Rohan Krishnamurti received the President's Plaque and the Chief of the Air Staff Sword of Honour for topping the pilots' course, while Flying Officer Nishtha Vaid received the President's Plaque in the Ground Duty Branch. The ceremony concluded with the newly commissioned officers marching out to martial tunes. As Flying Officer Tushita Singh steps into her role in the IAF, her story continues to inspire—reminding us that even the sky is not the limit when one dares to dream. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Deccan Herald
14-06-2025
- General
- Deccan Herald
Operation Sindoor delivered decisive blow to enemy: Chief of Air Staff AP Singh
Singh on Saturday reviewed the Combined Graduation Parade (CGP) held at the Air Force Academy (AFA), Dundigal Hyderabad.
