Hero Women’s PGT: Ridhima Dilawari inches closer to fourth win of the season

Ridhima opens up a massive lead with one round to go. Amandeep Drall, with a tally of 146, is in the sole second place.

Ridhima Dilawari tallies four-under-140 after two rounds. File Photo: Getty Images

Ridhima Dilawari opened up a six-shot lead with one round to go in the 14th Leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour here on Thursday.

Overnight co-leader Ridhima, who was one of the four players to shoot a sub-par round on the first day, was the only one of them to repeat the effort as she brought home 71 to go with her first round 69 to get to four-under 140 in the ₹8 lakh tourney. Amandeep Drall, the only other player to shoot under par in the second round, added 71 to her first round 75 to leap to 146 and sole second place.

FIRST ROUND REPORT

Meanwhile, Diksha Dagar, who shared the first round lead with Ridhima, suffered a severe reversal of form with six bogeys and no birdies as her 78 saw her fall to three-over 147 and third place. Gaurika Bishnoi, leader on the Hero Order of Merit, was also unable to land any birdies as she had three bogeys and a double on the Par-4 12th hole for a 77 that saw her at four-over 148 and fourth place.

Blip in the back-nine for Tvesa Malik

Tvesa Malik, the other player apart from Ridhima with three wins this season, did have two birdies, but she also gave away six bogeys and a double bogey. Her back nine was a nightmare with four bogeys and a double on the Par-5 14th as she dropped to fifth place at five-over 149.

Smriti Mehra (77-76) was sixth and Anousha Tripathi (79-76) was seventh. Siddhi Kapoor (82-74) and Saaniya Sharma (78-78) were tied eighth and three players — Ishvari Prasanna (80-77), Astha Madan (77-80) and Neha Tripathi (77-80) were tied 10th. In the final round, Ridhima will play with Diksha Dagar and Amandeep Drall, and unless there is a big change in fortunes, Ridhima would win her fourth title of the season.