Aditi Ashok tied 26th in first round of Canberra Classic 2018

Aditi had two bogeys in first five holes, but birdied on sixth and turned in one-over.

Aditi Ashok (above) was paired with Beth Allen and Caroline Hedwall. (File Photo)

Aditi Ashok salvaged her first round with a super back nine as she birdied three of the last five holes to finish at one-under 71 and in tied 26th place at the end of the first round of ActewAGL Canberra Classic on Friday.

Aditi had two bogeys in first five holes, but birdied on sixth and turned in one-over. A bogey on 13th meant she was two over, but three birdies on 14th, 16th and 18th with one bogey on 13th saw her come under par.

Aditi was paired with Beth Allen and Caroline Hedwall. Among other Indians Amandeep Drall (74) was tied 65th, Gaurika Bishnoi (75) was tied 87, Vani Kapoor (81) was tied 134th.

Former world number one Jiyai Shin of South Korea produced eight birdies in an opening round of seven-under-par 65 to claim a two-shot lead. Shin won the 2013 Women’s Australian Open at Royal Canberra.

A late surge kept last week’s Oates Vic Open champion Minjee Lee of Australia in touch and she lies in joint second alongside Leticia Ras-Anderica of Germany and Norwegian rookie Karoline Lund on five-under-par 67.

First round play was suspended for approximately 40 minutes due to the threat of thunderstorms and play continued in overcast and humid conditions.