Sharmila’s spree to the top

Beijing, May 24 

Indian golfer Sharmila Nicollet was a picture of consistency as she recorded a 4-under 68 to share the lead after the first round of the Le Coq Sportif Beijing Ladies Classic here on Thursday.

The lanky Indian, who is on a comeback trail, was 1-over through the first three holes, as she bogeyed the second with a three-putt.

She then went on a birdie spree with five straight birdies from the fourth to eighth. The birdies dried up after that, but she stayed steady and did not drop any shots. She had 10 pars in a row and ended the day at 68.

“I played really well today,” said Sharmila, the Bangalore native who is playing full-time on the China LPGA Tour this year.  “I could have had a lot more birdies on the back nine but I missed a lot of putts within 10 feet. I could get much lower but it is okay,” added the 27-year-old. 

“Playing in China is great, close to home, a little bit tough with the language but I am getting used to it. The tour is very organised and takes good care of its players. The competition is very good as well. I am having fun. It’s nice to be here.” 

Sharmila topped the stats in both driving accuracy and greens in regulation. She shares the lead with three Chinese players — amateurs Ji Yifan and Yin Xiaowei and pro Li Xiya —and Thailand’s Wanchana Poruangrong.

Sharmila was longest off the tee, with her longest drive reaching 262.5 metres, while she averaged 92.9 percent in driving and reached 88.9 percent greens in regulation. Though she had as many as seven one-putts, she needed 30 putts for the round.

China’s Yang Taoli and Chen Cuixia were one shot off the pace on 69 at the RMB800,000 CLPGA Tour tournament at Beijing Orient Pearl Golf Club. — PTI

Lahiri shoots 3-under

Anirban Lahiri made a brilliant start but slipped on the back-nine with two bogeys before he sunk a 25-footer for birdie on the par-4 18th to end with a solid 3-under in Round 1 of the Fort Worth Invitational in Fort Worth, Texas, on Thursday. Lahiri started with three back-to-back birdies before adding another on the ninth hole. At one point, he was tied for the top spot but bogeys on the 12th and 14th saw him slip to tied-16th. The last-hole birdie helped him up to tied-9th but many players, including Shubhankar Sharma, were yet to finish their rounds.