Diksha leads Czech Ladies Open with blistering second round

By Rahul Banerji

A bogey-free 7 under 65 gave Diksha Dagar a five-shot 36-hole clubhouse lead in the Tipsport Czech Ladies Open in Beroun on Saturday.

The Asian Games-bound left-hander followed her opening 3 under 69 with a clean card that contained a front-nine eagle and five birdies for a two-day total of 10 under 132, five clear of the pack.

Saturday’s display was Diksha’s best round of the season, bettering the 67 she recorded in the second round of the Belgian Ladies Open back in May.

Ana Pelaez Trivino of Spain and England’s Cara Gainer and Gabriella Cowley were tied for second place on 5 under 139 at the Euro 300,000 Ladies European Tour event.

Gainer finished second in a playoff for last week’s Amundi German Masters to Czech golfer Kristyna Napoleaova as both battled it out for a maiden LET title. Diksha finished tied for third behind the two.

Overnight leader Ana Dawson who carded a 68 slipped into a tie for 23^rd with a 4 over second round.

Diksha, who has frequently been in contention this season played her first two rounds alongside Dawson, the first Isle of Man player to compete on the Ladies European Tour.

Pranavi Urs, the winner of the Hero Order of Merit in India in 2022, had two eagles on the front nine before finishing in tied 20^th with a 1 under 143 (75-68).

Ridhima Dilawari, after a first-round 74 was the third Indian to go through on 2 over 146 while Amandeep Drall and Vani Kapoor did not make the cut.

Vital momentum

Diksha had already picked up two shots by the par-5 seventh and she played the 472-yard hole perfectly to pick up some vital momentum that she did not let go of till the end.

Having made the turn in four under, the Indian played a blemish-free back nine that included a closing birdie by which time she was well ahead of the field at the Royal Beroun Golf Club.

Diksha is seeking her second title on the Ladies European Tour after the first one in 2019 when she won the Investec Women’s South African Open.

Earlier this year Aditi Ashok won her fourth LET title when she captured the Magical Kenya Ladies Open.

Last week Diksha was tied-third at the Amundi German Masters and was earlier tied for eighth at the Helsingborg Open and T6 at Belgian Ladies Open.

“Throughout my round I was in very good form and my hitting was good. I putted very well today,” Diksha said on the LET website.

“I’m feeling confident. My main focus is to play good golf and at the moment I’m enjoying it.” 

This is her fourth consecutive appearance in Beroun and she came close to victory at the event in 2021 ahead of the Tokyo Olympic Games.

“Two years ago, I finished in the top five during the Olympic qualification period. My target was to finish top five. I have played here multiple times and I know this course very well.”

Looking ahead to the final round, she added: “I’m going to do the same thing as I did today. I’m going to stay focused and leave the result to the golf.”

Also read: Diksha Dagar shares third behind title playoff at German Masters