Amandeep, Gaurika share round 1 lead in Classic Hero WPGT leg

By Rahul Banerji

Amandeep Drall and Gaurika Bishnoi shared the lead with contrasting first rounds in the sixth leg of the Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour on Wednesday.

Playing at the Classic Golf and Country Club, Amandeep dropped two shots on the front nine but played a bogey-free four-under on the back stretch while Gaurika had five birdies against a double bogey and a bogey.

Both shot two-under 70s for a one-shot lead over a sour-strong group sharing third place, the WGAI said.

The experienced Tvesa Malik and Vani Kapoor, using these events for tournament practice, were on 71 along with rookie Kriti Chowhan and Hitaashee Bakshi, who is coming back from an injury.

Amandeep, who has one domestic win this year, turned in a disappointing two-over par 38.

A change in momentum on the back nine saw her pick up sour shots including two over the closing holes.

Give and take

Gaurika twice had back-to-back birdies on each side of the course but also gave away three shots before picking up one final shot to reach two-under 70.

Tvesa had three birdies against two bogeys while Vani Kapoor had two birdies and one bogey.

Agrima Manral was sole seventh on level par 72, while Asmitha Sathish and Rhea Jha were on 73 for tied eighth.

Six players, including last week’s winner Sneha Singh, shot 74s in tied 10^th. the others being Seher Atwal, Nayanika Sanga and Neha Tripathi among the pros and amateurs Nishna Patel and Lavanya Jadon.

Scores and round 2 tee times

7:30 am: Anaggha Venkatesh 91; Khushi 88

7:40 am: Ayesha Kapur 85; Geetika Ahuja 84; Anisha Agarwalla 83

7:50 am: Mehar Atwal 80; Rhea Purvi Saravanan 79; Jyotsana Singh 78

8 am: Gursimar Badwal 78; Riya Yadav 78; Ananya Datar 78

8:10 am: Ishvari Prasanna 78; Rishika Muralidhar (A) 78; Sachika Singh 77

8:25 am: Shagun Narain 77; Anvvi Dahhiya (A) 76; Khushi Khanijau 76

8:35 am: Saaniya Sharma 76; Shweta Mansingh 76; Lakhmehar Pardesi 76

8:45 am: Nandita Kumar (A) 75; Keerthana Rajeev (A) 75; Nayanika Sanga 75

8:55 am: Oviya Reddi 74; Sneha Singh 74; Nishna Patel (A) 74

9:10 am: Neha Tripathi 74; Seher Atwal 74; Lavanya Jadon (A) 74

9:20 am: Rhea Jha 73; Asmitha Sathish 73; Agrima Manral 72

9:30 am: Kriti Chowhan 71; Hitaashee Bakshi 71; Vani Kapoor 71

9:40 am: Tvesa Malik 71; Gaurika Bishnoi 70; Amandeep Drall 70

Also read: Sneha hoping to extend title run at Hero WPGT sixth leg