By Rahul Banerji
India’s representatives at the AIG Women’s Open went through to the weekend with Aditi Ashok sharing ninth place and Diksha Dagar further down the order at Walton Heath on Friday.
Overnight leader Ally Ewing of the US continued to hold her spot at the top of the leaderboard, stretching her lead to five shots with a near-flawless 6 under 66 to go with an opening 68.
Aditi followed her opening level par 72 with an inspired 3 under 69 in the second round that included five birdies in all against one dropped shot on either side of the turn and was seven shots behind Ewing.
For her part Diksha made sure she would get past the 36-hole cut at the fifth and final major of the year with a 1 under 71 that put her in safe territory and a share of 47th place.
Both Indians, and Aditi in particular have found plenty of spectator support at the Surrey venue near London.
“Especially in the UK, there’s a lot of Indians,” Aditi told the Ladies European Tour website after her round that put her alongside eight others.
Good support
“A lot of Indian kids were walking (the course) here. That’s pretty cool for me to see. And, yeah, it’s nice to have some support out there.
“My mum has been having a good week too. And my dad usually caddies, but he fell sick last week so he’s just spectating. It’s great to have them at the bigger events and watch me play. And I’m playing good, so that’s a bonus.”
India’s top woman pro is third in the LET’s Order of Merit after starting the year with her fourth title on the tour and is 27th on the LPGA standings list with five top-10 finishes.
Having finished tied for 22nd as her best Women’s Open result five years ago, Aditi says she is feeling good about her game as she attempts to push on upwards over the final 36 holes.
“I feel like being in a good position after the first round or second round is important for me. And I haven’t done that much in the majors, so I’ve done it here this week, so hopefully I can build on that.
“I feel like I’ve been playing good, haven’t really dropped many shots. I’m just focusing on hitting fairways and greens. I think that’s the key on this course, especially hitting fairways.
More putts
“So that’s been working. I’m trying to keep doing that for the weekend and, yeah, hopefully hit them closer and get more birdie putts.”
Added Ewing on the LET website, “This golf course requires you to drive the ball really well. I left myself in a good position off the tee for the most part of the day except for 18.
“I was able to hit really good iron shots into the greens, give myself a lot of looks, which you can have looks but you’ve got to be able to capitalise on them.
“Rolled in some breaking putts, which I feel like that’s always a confidence boost to match up the line and speed. It was a very solid day.
“I’m going to know where I’m at obviously at the end of the day but mentally you have to be ready to regroup, because the past is the past.
“Nothing that I’ve done through 36 holes can do anything for me for the next 36, so I’m just going to be mentally prepared for each individual day that presents itself. Each shot is going to be different.”
Chasing pack
Three players shared second place on 5 under par at Walton Heath including Englishwoman Charley Hull, Andrea Lee of the US and Japan’s Minami Katsu.
Hull had a bogey-free 68 to put herself into contention heading into the weekend of the final major of the year and the three-time LET winner said later she was pleased with the effort.
“It was good. It was quite tricky out there today, a bit windy a bit rainy, we had a bit of all the four seasons out there. I’m pretty happy and it was good to finish with a few birdies coming in.
Four players were tied for fifth place after 36 holes with Americans Lilia Vu and Alison Lee alongside Mexico’s Gaby Lopez and Korea’s Hyo-Joo Kim on four-under-par.
Also read: Mixed fortunes for Aditi, Diksha as Ewing leads Women’s Open
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