Neha Tripathi stretches day two lead at Golden Greens event

By Rahul Banerji

Overnight leader Neha Tripathi doubled her advantage over the field to two shots in the 12^th Leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour at the Golden Greens course on Thursday.

Neha played superbly on the back nine for a 4-under 32 in her 5-under 67 for the day and a 36-hole total of 9 under 135. Riya Yadav matched Neha’s round of 67 to move into second place on 7 over 137.

Asmitha Sathish (71-70) and Gaurika Bishnoi (69-72) were tied for third on 3-under 141, while Ridhima Dilawari was sole fifth on 2-under 142.

Neha, who ended a long title wait in July thanks to her work in the off-season, returned to practice during the recent break and her game showed the results of the inputs. 

Riya had two birdies and a bogey on the front nine and four birdies and no bogeys on the return journey.

Riya, who had a hole-in-one on the eighth hole in her first round, dropped her only shot of the day on the same hole in the second round.

Salvage job

Asmitha had three birdies and a bogey while Gaurika swapped three birdies for three bogeys and a double in her first 15 holes.

She was 2-over for the day but then found birdies on the holes 16 and the 18 to salvage a par round.

Agrima Manral (74-69) made a five-shot improvement from her first round and moved to tied sixth alongside Jasmine Shekar (72-71) on 1-under 143.

Tvesa Malik had a better day with seven birdies but also gave away five shots in her 70 after an opening 75, as she was T8 with Khushi Khanijau (74-71) and Durga Nittur (74-71).

Seher Atwal, who shot 79 on the first day had a big positive swing with a 71 and she was T18 at 6-over 150. Hero Order of Merit leader, Sneha Singh (78-75) was T22.

Neha, who won the 10^th leg before the break in the Tour schedule, birdied the second and fifth holes for a tidy start before suffering her lone bogey on the Par-3 eighth.

On the way back she birdied four holes to ensure a good day’s work.

Scores and round 3 tee times

7:30 am: Trimann Saluja 155, Shagun Narain 154

7:40 am: Sneha Singh 153, Shweta Mansingh 153

7:50 am: Anisha Agarwalla 152, Nayanika Sanga 152, Seher Atwal 150

8 am: Lavanya Jadon (A) 150, Smriti Bhargav (A) 149, Gauri Karhade 149

8:10 am: Kriti Chowhan 149, Saanvi Somu (A) 149, Jyotsana Singh 148

8:25 am: Nishna Patel (A) 148, Ananya Datar 147, Durga Nittur 145

8:35 am: Khushi Khanijau 145, Tvesa Malik 145, Jasmine Shekar 143

8:45 am: Agrima Manral 143, Ridhima Dilawari 142, Gaurika Bishnoi 141

8:55 am: Asmitha Sathish 141, Riya Yadav 137, Neha Tripathi 143

Also read: Neha Tripathi holds opening round lead at Golden Greens