By Rahul Banerji
Diksha Dagar kept her challenge alive at the Amundi German Masters in testing conditions to finish her third round two shots behind the co-leaders on Saturday.
The young left-hander mixed seven birdies with two dropped shots as rain hit the Berlin area, making her day’s score of 5 under par 67 still more creditable.
On 11 under 205, Diksha was two shots behind co-leaders Cara Gainer of England and the Czech Republic’s footballer-turned-golfer Kristyna Napoleaova.
“I have been working on my putting skills and improving them because I know putting plays a very big role in your round,” Diksha said after her round, according to let.com.
“My game was very consistent and I’m keeping it very disciplined. My accuracy has been there this week and my putting is very much improved compared to last year.
“I am going to try to win but I’m going to stay calm and composed, that’s what gives you focus. I want to continue playing very good golf and stay in my form,” she added.
Behind Diksha at the Golf and Country Club Seddiner See. Queen Sirikit Cup winner Avani Prashanth was tied for 51st on 3 over 219 following her brilliant opening round of 7 under 65 with cards of 79 and 75.
Vani Kapoor (73-75-75) and Ridhima Dilawari (75-73-75), the two others to make the 36-hole cut, were tied for 65th on 7 over 223.
Consistent display
At the top, Gainer played consistent golf as she followed scores of 68 and 67 with a third round 68, while Napoleaova had a 69 to go with earlier cards of 68 and 66.
“I was six-under going down the 17th and it would have been nice to finish it off, but these things happen in golf,” Gainer, who is in search of her maiden LET title, told let.com.
“Enjoyed this course last year as well, the rolling fairways and it’s pretty windy. I enjoy playing in tough conditions and the tougher the better, hope there’s some wind tomorrow.
“Feel like I’m playing really well and I’m getting to a bit of a tipping point and a bit of a waterfall moment and I’m really hoping that’s tomorrow.
“It all depends on the conditions tomorrow and what the wind is going to do, but if I shot another 68 then I would say I would be in with a shout.”
Aditi slips
Meanwhile, at the Meijer LPGA Classic in Belmont, Michigan, Aditi Ashok followed two excellent rounds of 68 and 67 with a 72 to sit tied 13th on 9 under par 216.
The Bangalore golfer was six shots behind Korea’s Amy Yang (67-67-67, 15-under 201) and four adrift of a three-way tie for second at Blythefield Country Club.
Aditi swapped two birdies for as many bogies for a level par card as she seeks to extend what has been her best ever early season run in seven years on the LPGA Tour.
At the head of the field, Yang birdied all five par 5s and added seven birdies against two bogeys on her way to a third straight 5 under 67.
The 33-year-old Korean said later, “All week my ball striking has been really good. I was giving myself good chances out there.
“I was a little bit off with putting speed during the round, made a couple of mistakes, but I tried to stay patient and just keep trying throughout the round.”
Also read: Aditi two shots off LPGA Classic lead, Diksha T7 in Germany
Discover more from Tee Time Tales
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.