Notable pro debut for Vidhatri Urs gives her the early lead

Round one leader and professional debutant Vidhatri Urs of Mysore in action in the seventh leg of Hero WPG Tour on home turf on Wednesday. Image courtesy WGAI.

By Rahul Banerji

Playing steady golf on her professional debut, Vidhatri Urs led the seventh leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour in her hometown of Mysore on Wednesday.

Vidhatri’s 1 under 69 at the Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Golf Club was the only sub-par round of the day as the Hero WPGT resumed after its summer break.

Vidhatri, an amateur winner on the tour started with 10 straight pars before knocking in two birdies against one dropped shot on the day, the WGAI said.

Jasmine Shekar and Ananya Garg, who are looking for their maiden wins trailed the leader on 1 over 71s.

Jasmine, runner-up thrice last season and once so far this year returned a steady 71 that had one birdie against two bogeys while Ananya seemed headed for a good total before she dropped three shots in four holes after the turn.

Good recovery

Two birdies on either nine including one on hole 18 that saw her finish well for the day.

Khushi Khanijau dropped four shots in the first six holes but bounced back with three birdies in the next six. A bogey before the end put her on 2 over 72 but within handshaking distance of those up ahead.

Anvitha Narender, who like Vidhatri was making her pro debut, was tied eighth with Gauri Karhade, a one-time winner, and Astha Madan on 74.

The experienced Gaurika Bishnoi returned a difficult 73 to tie for fifth place with Shweta Mansingh and Rhea Purvi Saravanan, while 2023 merit topper Sneha Singh struggled to a 75 with one birdie and six bogeys.

Former Hero Women’s Indian Open runner-up Amandeep Drall had six bogeys and a double before she got her only birdie on hole 18 for a 77 and T17^th placing.

Mannat Brar and Saanvi Somu, who have previously represented India at the Women’s Amateur Asia Pacific, were the top amateurs in shared 11^th place alongside Sneha.

Scores and round 2 tee times

8 am : Anaggha Venkatesh 85, Prakruthi N. Sastry (A) 84

8:10 am: Gourabi Bhowmick 83, Chitrangada Singh 82

8:20 am: Krishaa Nichani (A) 81, Geetika Ahuja 81, Disha Kavery 80

8:30 am: Snigdha Goswami 80, Yaalisai Verma 80, Sachika Singh 79

8:45 am: Jahaanvie Walia 78, Keerthana Rajeev (A) 78, Ravjot K. Dosanjh 77

8:55 am: Anisha Agarwalla 77, Amandeep Drall 77, Rhea Jha 76

9:05 am: Karishma Govind 76, Sneha Singh 75, Saanvi Somu (A) 75

9:15 am: Vrinda Yadav 75, Mannat Brar (A) 75, Astha Madan 74

9:30 am: Anvitha Narender 74, Gauri Karhade 74, Shweta Mansingh 73

9:40 am: Rhea Purvi Saravanan 73, Gaurika Bishnoi 73, Khushi Khanijau 72

9:50 am: Jasmine Shekar 71, Ananya Garg 71, Vidhatri Urs 69

Also read: Amateur star Vidhatri to turn pro on home turf as WPGT resumes