Lakhmehar takes two-shot lead in Tolly leg of Hero WPGT

By Rahul Banerji

A first-time winner at Noida GC earlier this year, Lakhmehar Pardesi led the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour field at Tollygunge Club after the first round on Wednesday.

The lanky Lakhmehar shot a 1-over 71 at the par-70 course and led by two shots over Ridhima Dilawari, also looking at getting back into the winners’ circle after a long time.

Saaniya Sharma carded 74 to be third, while Jyotsana Singh, amateur Jahnavi Prakhya and Shweta Mansingh were tied for fourth on 75s.

Lakhmehar did not have the best of starts with three bogeys in the first five holes, but a birdie in between on the second kept her afloat. A second birdie on eight meant she turned in one-over.

On the back nine Lakhmehar parred the first five holes before dropping a shot.

Back-to-back birdies on 16 and 17 then saw her get back to par before a disappointing bogey on the closing hole saw her finish on a 71.

Ridhima, who won the opening event of 2021, is hoping to finish the year with a second win. She had birdies on the sixth, seventh and 10^th, but three bogeys in between cancelled out those gains.

Ridhima was even par after 13 but a bogey on 14 and a double on 18 pushed to 3-over. 

Saaniya, looking for her first success of 2021, had three bogeys and a double against a sole birdie.

Amateurs Smriti Bhargav and Nishna Patel were sixth and seventh on 76 and 77, while Neha Tripathi and amateur Zara Anand were tied for ninth on 78s.

Round 2 tee times and scores

9 am: Ishvari Prasanna 85; Rhea Purvi S. 83

9:10 am: Khushi Khanijau 81; Rishika Muralidhar (A) 81; Anisha Agarwalla 80

9:20 am: Oviya Reddi 80; Rhea Jha 80; Zara Anand (A) 78

9:35 am: Neha Tripathi 78; Nishna Patel (A) 77; Smriti Bhargav (A) 76

9:45 am: Shweta Mansingh 75; Jahnavi Prakhya (A) 75; Jyotsana Singh 75

9:55 am: Saaniya Sharma 74; Ridhima Dilawari 73; Lakhmehar Pardesi 71

Also read: Ridhima, Saaniya among favourites for Tolly leg of Hero WPGT