Avani, Tvesa into joint round 2 lead at LET’s Pre-Qualifier Asia

By Rahul Banerji

Avani Prashanth hit a bogey-free 5-under 67 to share the 36-hole lead with Tvesa Malik in the Ladies European Tour Pre-Qualifier – Asia on Thursday.

Avani, who was disappointed with her even par first round, stormed back with three birdies on the front nine and another two on the back stretch of the Jack Nicklaus designed Classic Golf and Country Club.

She was joined by Tvesa, who added a 3-under 69 to her first round 70 to claim a share of the lead at 5-under par 139, the LET said.

Singapore’s Sock Hwee Koh (72-70) was tied third with Ridhima Dilawari (72-70) on 3-under 141, while first-round leader Pranavi Urs stumbled with four bogeys against a lone to slip to fifth place.

The top eighth and ties from a field of 29 players are assured of a spot in the Final Stage of the LET Qualifying School.

Ananya Datar (72-72) was sixth at level par, while Durga Nittur (70-75) was seventh and Seher Atwal (72-75) shared eighth place with Marin Mizuno of Japan, who had rounds of 73-74) at 3-over 147.

Making ground

Avani was happy with her play and said, “I was disappointed on the first day when I could not get going on the greens and needed 32 putts.

“In the second round, I found 14 fairways and 12 greens in regulation and needed 26 putts. I hit well yesterday also but putting made all the difference today.”

The teenager from Bangalore added, “I am staying focused as this can be a tricky golf course and there is one more round to go.”

Avani has an invite to the Mallorca Ladies Open next week, where she will be playing alongside Diksha Dagar and will then go to Marrakech for the final stage.

“I have a job to do tomorrow and then I will take it from there,” said Avani, who is still an amateur, but has already won once on the LET’s Access Series in Sweden.

She also topped the Queen Sirikit Cup’s individual section and was fourth at the star-studded World Amateur Team Championship’s individual section.

Tvesa had a great start with four birdies on the front nine. She had back-to-back gains on the first and second holes and repeated it on the seventh and eighth.

However, two bogeys on the back nine pulled her back, but she closed with a birdie for a 69.

Staying focused

“I am playing well and hitting nicely but putting needs some work. Today was better than the first round. One more round to go, so I am staying in the present,” said Tvesa, who is looking to regain the full status she had on the LET till 2022.

Pranavi was quite disappointed, saying, “Nothing worked for me today. Not hitting and not putting. Just when I thought I would have no birdies today, the putt dropped on 17.”

Ridhima began with two early bogeys in the second round. She fought back well with six birdies, three on either nine, but also dropped a further two shots.

Singapore’s Sock Hwee, who played the Hero Women’s Indian last month, was steady with a bogey-free 2-under 70. She parred her first 13 holes and managed to finally drop two birdie putts.

A second pre-qualifier is scheduled to be held at the Golf Club Rotana and Samanah Golf by Nicklaus and Noria Golf Club from December 10 to 12 in Marrakech.

That will be followed by the 90-hole Qualifying School Final Stage to be held at the Al Maadan Golf Marrakech & Royal Club de Marrakech from December 16 to 20.

Also read: Pranavi fires clean opening round to lead LET Pre-Qualifier Asia