Home contingent sets high bar at Hero Women’s Indian Open

By Rahul Banerji

Co-leaders Amandeep Drall and Gaurika Bishnoi led a sizeable Indian contingent into the weekend rounds of the $400,000 Hero Women’s Indian Open at the DLF Golf and Country Club on Friday.

From a total of 30 who teed off on Day One, as many as 15 – the highest number ever – made the cut which came at eight over par 152 at India’s biggest women’s golf tournament.

While Amandeep has rounds so far of 67 and 72, Gaurika has carded

In all, 64 players, 61 professionals and three amateurs survived a brutal test on the course with just 12 in a field of 114 bringing in under-par cards, one of whom — Amy Walsh of Australia — was eliminated on the day.

LPGA regular Aditi Ashok was the next best-placed of the home contingent behind co-leaders Amandeep and Gaurika on three-under par 141 (70-71).

The 2016 champion here had the added benefit of bringing in one of the day’s very few bogey-free cards.71 and 68 for a five-under par 139 aggregate.

Amateurs shine

Vidhatri Urs (74-72), Anika Varma (75-73), the best-placed home finisher at the last edition in 2019, and National Games gold medallist Avani Prashanth (75-76) were the three amateurs going through.

Two individual Indian feats were recorded on the day.

Seher Atwal became the third to hit a third hole-in-one at the tournament, on the par-3 16^th hole. The feat also made sure that she would finish right on the line.

Later, Vani Kapoor (72-71) made the cut for the tenth time in a row, the best record by far by an Indian at the National Open and was ecstatic when informed of her feat.

“Really? I had no idea! You’ve just made my day,” the 28-year-old said. “I’ve always been comfortable playing this course and the Hero Women’s Indian Open always brings out the best in me.

“Overall, I made seven birdies and six bogeys today so it’s a little bit of mixed feelings there, but definitely pleased to be in contention for a tenth straight time.”

Four Indians were under par after the 36-hole cut – Gaurika, Amandeep, Aditi and Vani.

With Pranavi Urs and Ishvari Prasanna withdrawing on the day, 15 out of the 30 home starters missed out.

Making the cut

Amandeep Drall and Gaurika Bishnoi (-5), Aditi Ashok (-3), Vani Kapoor (-1), Nishtha Madan (+1), Neha Tripathi and Vidhatri Urs (+2), Hitaashee Bakshi (+3), Tvesa Malik, Diksha Dagar and Anika Varma (A) (+4), Ridhima Dilawari  (+5), Asmitha Sathish (+6), Avani Prashanth (A) (+7) and Seher Atwal (+8).

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