From a Correspondent
Singapore, March 9: Nishna Patel was the best-placed Indian on day one of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship in Singapore on Thursday.
The Mumbai teenager was tied 11th on one-under par 71, four shots behind the leader, Korea’s Minsol Kim.
Avani Prashanth, the 16-year-old winner of the Queen Sirikit Cup 10 days ago and one of the strong contenders for the event, returned a one-over 73.
The two-time national champion was disappointed at missing key putts in a round that had five bogeys against four birdies.
Avani was tied for 21st place after the first round, six shots behind world number 14 Minsol who was in the same group and who shot a 67.
Japan’s Rin Yoshida, the highest-ranked player at world no. 4 and the third member of the flight returned a three-over 75.
US-based Anika Varma (74) was one-under after 12 holes but dropped three shots in the last six holes.
Anika was tied 28th with Mannat Brar (76) in shared 53rd, Vidhatri Urs (77) tied for 60th and Lavanya Jadon (78) at T64.
Learning curve
Making her third start at the annual marquee event Nishna said she was learning from the experience of a series of international events recently.
“It was quite good overall. I was hitting the ball really well,” she said later.
“I was happy with the round, and the putting was good, though I could have saved a few shots as some birdie putts lipped out.”
Talking of the experience she has gained from previous WAAP starts and the Queen Sirikit Cup, she said, “Definitely that has helped. Since the last WAAP I have learned so much.”
Day one leader Minsol’s 67 included an eagle and a double bogey besides five birdies.
Ni Zixin of China, Thailand’s little-known Navaporn Soontreeyapas and Hong Kong’s Sophie Han were tied for second on four-under 68.
On her round Avani said, “I had a lot of dropped shots. Made four birdies, but gave away five shots which was not needed at all.
“I made some silly mistakes, couldn’t cover them up. My up-and-down game was absolutely off today, but hopefully it’s better tomorrow.
“As for putting, I had a couple of misreads and was not really trusting the line as much, even though what I saw was perfectly correct. And just a couple of times I hit it to the wrong places.”
Indian scores
T11: Nishna Patel 71 (-1), T21: Avani Prashanth 73 (+1), T28: Anika Varma 74 (+2), T53: Mannat Brar (76 (+4), T60: Vidhatri Urs 77 (+5), T64: Lavanya Jadon 78 (+6).
Also read: Avani takes ranking motivation into Singapore WAAP event
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