Twins Challenge School and Conference Golf Records in Their First Year

Vrishali Sinha ’19 and Vidushi Sinha ’19 ruled Midwest Conference golf this fall.

The twins from Gurgaon, Haryana, India, finished one-two at the MWC tournament in October and led Grinnell women’s golf to its third consecutive conference title. 

The Sinhas’ individual play raised eyebrows from the season’s start. In their very first competitive rounds for Grinnell, Vrishali and Vidushi shot the second and third best scores in program history at 74 and 76, respectively. 

Golfers since the age of 10, the Sinhas started playing at their home country club with their father. Vrishali says, “I was so jealous that my brother played with him every day, so I started playing.” Vidushi joined the family foursome a few months later.

Vrishali was the first of the two sisters to play competitively, winning her first tournament by 27 strokes. According to the twins, most women’s sports in India are pursued outside of school, and the Shri Ram School they attended did not offer golf. Aided by one of the best coaches in the country, they sharpened their skills against national competition in the Indian Golf Union (IGU), India’s governing body for men’s and women’s amateur golf.

All ages compete together in the IGU, and the Sinhas say only about 10–15 women nationally comprised their stiffest competition. Vrishali’s highest IGU ranking was second, and last year Vidushi finished ninth. Courses in India generally play about 400 yards longer, so the shorter format here fits their style of play perfectly.

“We don’t hit it long,” Vidushi says. “We just hit it really straight. We are both really accurate.”

“I never miss the fairway,” Vrishali says. No braggadocio. Just quiet self-assuredness. To be sure, a serene temperament is key to their success.

“Mentally, we are very calm compared to most girls on the course,” Vrishali says. “If you get emotional, your game will be all over the place and you won’t do well.”

The Sinhas’ goal is to compete in Division III nationals. But because the Midwest Conference is on probation and there is no automatic bid for winning the team title, they will have to depend on their individual end-of-season stroke averages to qualify. Vrishali’s is 75.2, Vidushi’s is 77.2. Last year, a 76 was needed. 

What they might accomplish in their Grinnell golf careers is for others to speculate about. “Honestly, I don’t want to look so far ahead,” Vrishali says. “I just want to get better every year and get more accurate with my game.”

“I just want to play one game at a time, one tournament at a time, and just be consistent,” Vidushi echoes.

Next summer the Sinhas will return to India and stay sharp by playing their home course every day. After all, college golf is one thing, but can they outshoot their brother? 

“Yes,” they answer in unison.

“Our brother is really good, too,” Vidushi says, “But, yeah, we beat him.”