Amandeep Drall opens up solid lead at DLF women’s event

By Rahul Banerji

Amandeep Drall returned a second successive 2-under par 70 to lead the field by a massive five shots in the eighth leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour at the DLF Golf & Country Club on Thursday.

The Panchkula-based Amandeep, who took the winner’s cheque at Noida after finishing behind amateur Sneha Singh, is keen to finish on top of the leader-board this time.

Amandeep had a flawless run on the front nine with two birdies and she went to 3-under with another birdie on the par-4 11^th.

Dropped shots on 14^th and 17^th with a birdie in between saw her finish the day with a 70.

Consistent threat

The 28-year-old, one of the most consistent players on the domestic circuit, has won at least once each year since turning pro in 2015.

The Panchkula golfer is looking for her second title this season, having already won the fourth leg in February.

Five shots behind Amandeep is Pranavi Urs, the only repeat winner this year, and Seher Atwal (74-71) in tied second place.

Debutant pro Hitaashee Bakshi is fourth with rounds of 74-74.

Ridhima Dilawari finally found some rhythm and shot even par 72 to be 5-over 149 in tied fifth with Tvesa Malik (71-78) and amateurs Kriti Chowhan (76-73) and Avani Prashanth (71-78).

Hitashee’s sister Jahanvi (72-79) who also turned pro ahead of this event, was ninth and Vani Kapoor (79-73) completed the top 10.

Struggles continue

Last week’s winner, amateur Sneha Singh (78-78) was 14^th. Diksha Dagar struggled once again and shot 83 and at 162, she was 19^th.

Pranavi opened with a birdie, but then lapsed into errors with a bogey on second, a double on the par-3 fifth and bogey on the par-4 sixth.

She turned her fortunes on the back nine with five birdies against two bogeys, including one on the Par-5 18^th.

Pranavi had birdies on 10^th and then three in a row from 13^th to 15^th with yet another on Par-4 17^th.

Seher Atwal had four birdies against five bogeys, while Tvesa had an off day with seven bogeys and just one birdie in a card of 78.

Ridhima carded five birdies and as many bogeys in her 72.

On the final day, Seher Atwal and Pranavi Urs will look for a fast start hoping to challenge Amandeep.

Round three groups, scores

8:30 am: Jyotsana Singh 172; Anisha Agarwalla 169

8:40 am: Geetika Ahuja 168; Afshan Fatima 166; Trimann Saluja 165

8:50 am: Lakhmehar Pardesi 165; Gursimar Badwal 164; Diksha Dagar 162

9 am: Astha Madan 158; Saaniya Sharma 158; Neha Tripathi 158

9:10 am: Rhea Jha 157; Sneha Singh (A) 156; Siddhi Kapoor 155

9:20 am: Shagun Narain 155; Nayanika Sanga (A)154; Vani Kapoor 152

9:30 am Jahanvi Bakshi 151; Avani Prashanth (A)149; Tvesa Malik 149

9:40 am: Kriti Chowhan (A)149; Ridhima Dilawari 149; Hitaashee Bakshi 148

9:50 am: Seher Atwal 145; Pranavi Urs 145; Amandeep Drall 140

Also read: Amandeep Drall takes early lead in WPGT eighth leg