Khushi searches for first win of 2023 as Merit battle rages on

By Rahul Banerji

Sneha Singh and Neha Tripathi stayed locked in battle for the Hero Order of Merit honours, as rain continued to play spoilsport in the 16th and final leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour in Chennai on Thursday.

For the second time in as many days, play at the TNGF Cosmo Club was limited to nine holes, with Khushi Khanijau taking over at the top, the WGAI said.

After shooting level par 35s on the first day to share the lead, Sneha and Neha carded 2-over 37s each to sit a shot behind the leader.

They were joined in shared second place on 2 over 72 by Shweta Mansingh (38-34) after the 18 holes played over two days.

Pressure situation

Sneha leads Neha by Rs. 27,792 in the race for the Order of Merit. If the two finish tied at Chennai, Sneha emerges Order of Merit champion, so the pressure is on Neha in the final round.

Khushi (35-36) had one birdie and one double bogey for the day, while Shweta produced three birdies against two bogeys for her 1-under 34, the only under-par performance of the day.

Her three birdies over nine holes were also equal best with Durga Nittur, who also gave away two bogeys and a double for tied eighth place.

Chasing the leader Khushi and the three sharing second place were Ananya Datar (38-35) and Seher Atwal (36-37) in tied fifth.

Snigdha Goswami (39-35) at 4-over 74 was seventh, while Ravjot K. Dosanjh (38-37) and Durga Nittur (39-36) were tied for ninth.

Amateur Srihitha Mandava, Ridhima Dilawari, Yaalisai Verma and Rhea Jha were in shared 10th place. 

Scores and round 3 tee times

7:30 am: Rhea Purvi S. 83, Agrima Manral 81

7:40 am: Geetika Ahuja 80, Karishma Govind 79

7:50 am: Anisha Agarwalla 78, Gauri Karhade 78, Jasmine Shekar 78

8 am: Anaggha Venkatesh 78, Ishvari Prasanna 78, Rhea Jha 76

8:10 am: Yaalisai Verma 76, Ridhima Dilawari 76, Srihitha Mandava (A) 76

8:25 am: Durga Nittur 75, Ravjot K. Dosanjh 75, Snigdha Goswami 74

8:35 am: Seher Atwal 73, Ananya Datar 73, Sneha Singh 72

8:45 am: Neha Tripathi 72, Shweta Mansingh 72, Khushi Khanijau 71

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