By Rahul Banerji
Bangalore’s Avani Prashanth underlined her potential with a superb 6-under par 66 to take the lead on the penultimate day of the Hero WPGT event in Panchkula on Thursday.
Avani, who opened with a 76 turned in a 10-shot swing on day two to lead the experienced Amandeep Drall and overnight leader Pranavi Urs.
The teenager had four birdies on the front nine beginning with the first hole and then three in a row from the fifth to the seventh.
Avani had two more on 10 and 15 in a clean card. Three of her birdies came on the par-5s to help total 2-under 142, one shot ahead of Amandeep and Pranavi.
Despite being an amateur, Avani, who divides her time between the Hero WPGT circuit and the amateur Tours, has been having a great season alongside the professionals.
She won the third WPGT leg in Mumbai, finished runner-up at the DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurgaon in the eighth leg and second again in the 10th leg last week in Chandigarh.
Holding on
A winner at Chandigarh last week and second overnight, Amandeep, held on to her place with a 73 that included one double bogey.
She had three bogeys against four birdies but at 1-under 143 she is breathing down Avani’s neck.
Pranavi, a four-time winner on the Hero WPGT, carded a 2 over 74 with three birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey.
Saaniya Sharma had the biggest swing in scores between rounds as she followed up a 79 with a flawless 66 on Thursday to equal Avani’s card.
Saaniya had an eagle on the par-5 third and four birdies without dropping a shot.
Vani Kapoor (71), Jahanvi Bakshi (72) and Seher Atwal (75) were tied for fifth on 2-over 146, while Rhea Jha (73), Lakhmehar Pardesi (79) and Gaurika Bishnoi (76) were eight, nine and 10.
With just one shot separating the top three, a keen battle is assured in the leading group, but right behind them are Saaniya, Vani and Jahanvi.
The cut came at 15-over 159 and 18 players made the grade into the final round.
Scores and round 3 tee times
8:30 am: Shagun Narain 159; Zara Anand (A) 159
8:40 am: Trimann Saluja 159; Ishvari Prasanna 158
8:50 am: Puneet K Bajwa (A) 157; Khushi Khanijau 157; Kriti Chowhan (A) 156
9 am: Hitaashee Bakshi 155; Rhea P Saravanan 155; Gaurika Bishnoi 154
9:15 am: Lakhmehar Pardesi 152; Rhea Jha 149; Seher Atwal 146
9:25 am: Jahanvi Bakshi 146; Vani Kapoor 146; Saaniya Sharma 145
9:35 am: Pranavi Urs 143; Amandeep Drall 143; Avani Prashanth (A) 142
Also read: Pranavi leads Amandeep by one in 11th leg opener of Hero WPGT
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