Tvesa in lead, Amandeep tied second on Day 1 in Bengaluru

Chandigarh, June 20

Amandeep Drall carded a 1-over 72 to share the second spot with Kapurthala’s Gursimar Badwal on the opening day of the seventh leg of the Women’s Professional Tour at the Prestige Golfshire course in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

Amandeep, who is still winless this season, had two birdies against three bogeys, while Gursimar had as many as four birdies, but gave away five bogeys to finish a shot behind leader Tvesa Malik. 

Tvesa scored a steady even-par 72 after starting off with a bogey on the first hole.

She birdied the second and the third hole but gave away the advantage after dropping shots on the eighth and the 11th hole. A birdie on the par-3 17th, though, helped her restore the parity and finish with a par-72.    

Amateur Ridhima Dilawari (75) was sole fourth, while Smriti Mehra and Anisha Padukone carded 76 each to be tied 5th. 

Another amateur Pranavi Urs (77) was seventh, as Millie Saroha, amateur Sehar Atwal and pre-tournament favourite Neha Tripathi were tied 8th with rounds of 79 each.

With the golf course testing the players all the way, the stage is now set for the final two rounds with a lot of players in the frame for the first win of the second half of the season.

Gursimar, Amandeep and Tvesa will go out in the lead group ahead of the second last group comprising Smriti, Anisha and Ridhima.

Ashbeer sizzles

Karnal: The 24-year-old enjoyed a healthy four-shot lead over Vashista S Pawar of Coimbatore, who carded a 3-under 67 to finish the day in second place.

Saini, who teed off from the 10th hole, had a whirlwind start as he picked up five birdies on his first 11 holes thanks to some quality chip-putts and a 20-feet conversion from off the green on the 17th.

Ashbeer’s only blemish came on the third where he three-putted for bogey but he followed that up with birdies on the next three holes to set up the tournament.

“This round is a big confidence-booster as I’ve been out of form for quite some time now due to a wrist injury I suffered couple of years back. I’m now back to full fitness and slowly regaining my rhythm,” Saini said after the day’s play.

“I drove it well today and converted everything on the greens. The four birdies on the back-nine provided the spark to my round. The focus will now be on capitalising on this strong start,” said Saini, who turned professional in 2013.

Pawar, meanwhile, struck four birdies and a bogey during his round of 67. Karnal’s Maniram Sharma returned a 3-over-73 to be tied 31st. — TNS/Agencies