Mixed fortunes for Aditi, Diksha as Ewing leads Women’s Open

By Rahul Banerji

Aditi Ashok hit a level par 72 to share 33^rd place after the opening round of the AIG Women’s Open at Walton Heath near London on Thursday.

For her part, the second Indian in the field, Diksha Dagar, was left needing to work her way into the weekend.

While Aditi was well inside the cut line, Diksha’s 2 over 74 left her just outside the cut line in tied 81st, which is likely to fall at 1-over after Friday’s second round at the Surrey course.

While Aditi is seeking to improve on her best finish in a major, a tied 22nd at the 2018 Women’s Open, Diksha is out to make her first cut in her second attempt at the year’s fifth and final major on the women’s calendar.

Ally Ewing of the US fired an opening round of 4 under 68 to lead a classy field by one stroke at the end of the first day after overtaking five players, all on 69. The three-time LPGA Tour winner dropped three shots against five birdies and an eagle in her opening 68.

Close race

The five in shared second at Walton Heath included 2020 Race to Costa del Sol topper Emily Kristine Pedersen, Koreans Jeongeun Lee6 and Amy Yang, France’s Perrine Delacour and Thailand’s Jaravee Boonchant.

The Danish star dropped a shot early but made an eagle and two birdies for her 3 under round, while Yang had a double bogey, two bogeys, five birdies and an eagle in her 69.

Twelve players were bunched in a tie for seventh place on two-under-par including Spain’s Carlota Ciganda and Switzerland’s Morgane Metraux.

After the cut the top-65 and ties go through to the weekend rounds meaning that Diksha has some work to do in her second round.

Already in danger of missing out are the likes of US superstar Lexi Thompson the Jutanugarn sisters of Thailand and major winners like Brooke Henderson of Canada and world number three Lydia Ko of New Zealand.

Also read: Aditi, Diksha set for AIG Women’s Open, year’s final major