By Rahul Banerji
Two amateurs matched an experienced professional to share the lead after the first round of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour event in Hyderabad on Tuesday.
Kriti Chowhan and Vidhatri Urs matched established star Pranavi Urs with 2-under 68s for a one-shot advantage over Anisha Agarwalla (69) on the Hyderabad Golf Association course.
There was further indication of the growing depth in women’s golf with yet another amateur, Keerthana R. Nair, in tied fifth place alongside Seher Atwal on level par 70.
Jaipur-based Kriti, daughter of an Army officer, has played frequently on the Hero Women’s Pro Tour and even finished in the top three overall in 2021.
She was the runner-up at the All India Ladies Amateurs in November 2021, losing to India’s top amateur, Avani Prashanth, in the final.
Kriti also took part in the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship in Abu Dhabi in 2021. She has finished consistently well on the domestic Tour but of late wins have eluded her.
Cashing in
On Tuesday, Kriti made good use of the conditions to chalk up five birdies against three bogeys, two of them on difficult holes that many in the field found hard to negotiate.
The highlight of her round was a hat-trick of birdies immediately after back-to-back bogeys. The Jaypee Greens-based player dropped a late shot that could have well given her the outright lead.
Kriti was later joined by Pranavi and thereafter her cousin, Vidhatri.
Hero Order of Merit leader Pranavi had four birdies in her first eight holes but also dropped two shots.
She turned in two-under 34 and began the back nine in style with an eagle but a double bogey pegged her to a 68.
The steadily improving Vidhatri had four birdies against two bogeys.
Anisha Agarwalla had one of her best rounds in recent times with a 69 that included five birdies and four bogeys.
Amateur Heena Kang and Gauri Karhade tied for seventh with scores of 71 each, while last week’s winner Hitaashee Bakshi, Ishvari Prasanna and Shweta Mansingh were tied ninth with 72 each.
Sneha Singh had a rough day on her home course with a 73 while Jahanvi Bakshi shot 79.
Scores and round 2 tee times
9 am: Jahanvi Bakshi 79; Geetika Ahuja 78
9:10 am: Rhea Jha 78; Rhea Purvi Saravanan 78
9:20 am: Shagun Narain 76; Agrima Manral 76; Nayanika Sanga 75
9:30 am: Ceerat Kang (A) 75; Suchitra Ramesh 74; Saaniya Sharma 74
9:40 am: Oviya Reddi 73; Sneha Singh 73; Asmitha Sathish 73
9:55 am: Disha Kavery 73; Jyotsana Singh 73; Hunar Mittal (A) 73
10:05 am: Khushi Khanijau 73; Shweta Mansingh 72; Ishvari Prasanna 72
10:15 am: Hitaashee Bakshi 72; Gauri Karhade 71; Heena Kang (A) 71
10:30 am: Seher Atwal 70; Keerthana R. Nair (A) 70; Anisha Agarwalla 69
10:40 am: Vidhatri Urs (A) 68; Pranavi Urs 68; Kriti Chowhan (A) 68
Also read: Hitaashee beats off Pranavi charge to win at Boulder Hills
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