India’s LPGA star Aditi Ashok ponders over a putt on day three of the Hulencourt Women’s Open in Belgium on Saturday when she climbed into a share of third place. Image courtesy let.com.
By Rahul Banerji
Indian Olympians Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar continued their pursuit of top honours at the Hulencourt Women’s Open, sharing third place after Moving Day in Belgium.
After 54 holes, both Aditi and Diksha were on 5 under par 211, five shots adrift of new event leader, Australia’s Kelsey Bennet.
For her part, Bennett will take a two-shot lead into Sunday after she shot a 3 under 69 on Moving Day to replace overnight leader Carolina Chacarra on 10 under par 206.
Aditi is using this week’s tournament as preparation for the Amundi Evian Championship and the five-time Ladies European Tour winner produced three birdies on the home stretch for a round of 2 under 70 in testing conditions.
“I didn’t feel like I had my good stuff today,” LPGA regular Aditi (70-71-70) told the LET website.
“But I was able to roll in a couple of long putts coming in so it ended up good.
“It’s my first time to Belgium. I’ve always struggled at Evian and I figured out it’s because I always go straight there from the US.
Adjusted timeline
“I felt like getting to Europe earlier this year to get on the same time zone. A week before might be helpful and of course it’s always nice to be back on the LET.”
Two-time LET winner Diksha battled to a 1 under 71 to sit five shots behind the lead total following earlier rounds of 68 and 72.
Bennet (70-67-69) set out on Saturday two shots behind LET rookie Carolina Chacarra but narrowed the gap quickly at Hulencourt Golf Club.
A three-shot swing on hole nine gave Bennet a two-stroke advantage with the Australian picking up a birdie while Chacarra carded a double bogey.
Further drama followed with Carolina closing in two holes later with a birdie of her own against Bennet’s bogey but one final gain gave the Australia the advantage headed into Title Sunday.
Currently third on the LET Order of Merit, Bennett is chasing a second win of the season after victory at the Australian Women’s Classic in March.
“Yeah it was a pretty solid day,” the Australian said later.
“I actually didn’t really know what the scoreboard was doing so it’s good to know I’m now two shots clear. Nothing was overly special but nothing was really bad.
Solid day
“Plotted my way around and this course sets up well for my game. The shot on the 10th was very nice. I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing tomorrow.
“It was pretty breezy out there. Most of it is quite a lot of the cross breeze so it’s pretty tricky. If you the miss the fairway and you’re in that long grass, you’re not finding it.
“I actually had two shots today that went in there and I got blessed as they were not in the long grass! I’ll count my blessings and take them.”
Chacarra (70-65-73) at only her second LET event of the season, said, “It was still a good day today. It was definitely tougher with the windy conditions. It was definitely harder.
“I hit is as close as yesterday but the putts just didn’t drop. I fought hard out there and am very proud of myself. I’ll try to keep up the momentum tomorrow.”
Pranavii Urs was tied for 42nd place at 6 over 222 while Avani Prashanth shared 51st place on 7 over 223 with a roller-coaster run that included an eagle, a birdie, eight bogeys and a double.
Also read: Another Chacarra rises in Belgium as Diksha, Aditi give chase
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