Late birdie gives Neha Tripathi slim day one lead at Zion Hills

File photo of Neha Tripathi, who has hit some good form of later after an injury-affected 2024. Image courtesy LET/Tristan Jones.

By Rahul Banerji

Two birdie braces and another pick-up late in her round saw Neha Tripathi take a one-shot lead at the Zion Hills Golf County course on Wednesday.

Runner-up last week in leg nine of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour, Neha mixed five birdies with two bogeys in her 3 under par 69 for a one-shot lead over Durga Nittur, the WGAI said.

Ridhima Dilawari was the only other player to keep pace with her level par 72 that had two two birdies in her last four holes.

The resurgent Neha, who had to deal with injuries over the past year, picked up birdies on the second and third holes and parred the other six on the front nine.

She began the back nine with two straight bogeys but picked up shots on holes 14, 15^, and 17.

Durga birdied the fourth and fifth holes and then had two birdies and twp bogeys on the back nine.

Seeking success

Ridhima had three birdies and three bogeys in her even par round, as she continues to seek her first win of the season.

Amandeep Drall, Nayanika Sanga and Seher Atwal were tied for fourth on 73s, while Lavanya Jadon (74) was seventh. Rhea Jha and Oviya Reddi were tied for eighth with cards of 75.

Kriti Chowhan, last week’s winner Jasmine Shekar, Gauri Karhade and amateur Saanvi Somu were tied for tenth place at 4 over 76.

It was a rough day for four-time winner Vani Kapoor and Sneha Singh, a two-time winner this season, who were well down the order.

Sneha had two late birdies but also two bogeys and three doubles bogeys in a 78 that gave her a share of 19th place.

Vani carded a 7 over 79 with one birdie and eight bogeys for tied 23rd place.

Scores and round 2 tee times

8 am: Gourabi Bhowmick 85, Yashita Raghav 83

8:10 am: Agrima Manral 82, Anaggha Venkatesh 82, Vidhatri Urs 81

8:20 am: Keerthana Rajeev (A) 81, Shrestha Shukla 81, Karishma Govind 81;

8:30 am: Ishvari Prasanna 1, Anvvi Dahhiya (A) 80, Jahaanvie Walia 79

8:40 am: Keya K. Badugu (A) 79, Vani Kapoor 79, Sneha Singh 78

8:55 am: Rhea Purvi 78, Ananya Garg 78, Tanishka Prithvi (A) 78

9:05 am: Ceerat Kang (A) 77, Heena Kang 77, Snigdha Goswami 77

9:15 am: Dia Cris Kumar (A) 77, Khushi Khanijau 77, Saanvi Somu (A) 76

9:25 am: Gauri Karhade 76, Jasmine Shekar 76, Kriti Chowhan 76

9:40 am: Oviya Reddi 75, Rhea Jha 75, Lavanya Jadon 74

9:50 am: Amandeep Drall 73, Seher Atwal 73, Nayanika Sanga 73

10 am: Ridhima Dilawari 72, Durga Nittur 70, Neha Tripathi 69

Also read: Vani Kapoor eyes fifth title of season at Kolar leg of Hero WPGT