Hero Women’s Pro Tour: Gaurika Bishnoi holds fort on Day One

Bishnoi took the lead with a score of three-under-69 in the fifth leg of the Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour.

Gaurika Bishnoi leads Amandeep Drall and Vani Kapoor, both of whom are in the second position.

Gaurika Bishnoi carded three-under-69 to take the lead on the first day of the fifth leg of the Hero Women’s Professional Golf tour at the Classic Golf & Country Club, here on Wednesday. Trailing her in second position with identical scores of one-under-71 are Amandeep Drall and Vani Kapoor at the Rs. 8,00,000 event, which will culminate on March 3.

Local girl Gaurika had a shaky start as she carded a bogey on the second hole. However, she bounced back with an eagle on the fourth and a birdie on the eighth on her way out. In her back nine, she carded birdies on the 10th, 16th and 17th holes while dropping shots on the 11th and 13th to finish with a score of three-under-69.

Panchkula’s Amandeep and New Delhi’s Vani were tied second after 18 holes. Amandeep started impressively, carding a bogey- free front nine with birdies on the third and fourth holes. In her back nine, she dropped shots on 10th, 11th and 13th holes, but quickly regained composure and carded birdies on the 15th and 18th.

Vani had an indifferent start, carding bogeys on the second and third holes. The damage was quickly controlled with birdies on the sixth and ninth. She carded a bogey on the 14th hole, but an eagle on the 18th provided the impetus for her to finish with a sub par score of one under 71.

Jaipur’s Afshan Fatima started with aplomb, carding a birdie on the very first hole. Thereafter, her round was a mix of impressive play and mediocrity, with birdies on the fourth, sixth and 18th offset by bogeys on the second, fifth, 14th and 17th holes. She finished with an even par round.

Amateur Tvesa Malik and Hero MotoCorp sponsored Sharmila Nicollet were tied fifth with identical scores of one over 73. Tvesa carded birdies on the sixth and 14th, while dropping shots on the first, third and 12th. Sharmila’s card on the day included birdies on the fifth, 12th, 13th and 18th while dropping shots on the first, sixth, seventh, ninth and 14th.

Overseas Thai professional Walailak Satarak and Kapurthala’s Gursimar Badwal were tied seventh with identical scores of two-over-74, followed by amateur Gurjot Badwal in ninth position with a score of four-over-76. Anisha Padukone and Saaniya Sharma finished the round tied 10th with identical scores of five-over-77.