Aditi vaults to tied 13th at major ANA golf

Aditi Ashok, who was even par for the first round, was four-under through 10 holes and zoomed from tied 51st at the end of the first round to provisional tied 13th when play ended on Friday evening.

Aditi was on the spot, as she found six of the eighth fairways and reached the greens in regulation 70 per cent.

Aditi Ashok played brilliantly in the 10 holes that she got to play in the second round before darkness descended at the ANA Inspiration, the year’s first Major for women.

Aditi, who was even par for the first round, was four-under through 10 holes and zoomed from tied 51st at the end of the first round to provisional tied 13th when play ended on Friday evening.

The second round of the ANA Inspiration was suspended at 7:03 pm local time due to darkness. The first round was suspended on Thursday afternoon due to high winds and wasn’t completed until yesterday afternoon.

Suzann Pettersen held the early lead on day two at Rancho Mirage. She returned to the course at 9:00 am. yesterday morning to much calmer conditions and posted a four-under par, 68. She followed that in the afternoon with a three-under par, 69 to lead by one at seven-under par.

Aditi, who is playing only her second Major - she missed cut in her debut Major at the Women’s British Open last year — birdied the second, fourth, eighth and ninth holes. She had played the 10th in par when play was stopped.

Aditi was on the spot, as she found six of the eighth fairways and reached the greens in regulation 70 per cent. So far she has needed only 13 putts in second round.

In round one, she had 10 of the 14 fairways and 12 of the 18 greens in regulation, but needed 29 putts on the windy opening day.

Seven times Pettersen has finished in the top-10 at Mission Hills, including three runner-up finishes. Minjee Lee, Nelly Korda, Inbee Park and Cristie Kerr sit one behind Pettersen at six-under par. Karine Icher and Michelle Wie are also at six-under par.