Pranavi fires clean opening round to lead LET Pre-Qualifier Asia

By Rahul Banerji

Pranavi Urs opened her Ladies European Tour card campaign with a bogey-free 68 for the first-round lead in the 54-hole Pre-Qualifier Asia at the Classic GCC near Gurgaon on Wednesday.

The Mysore golfer shot a clean 4 under 68 that gave her a two-shot lead over second-placed Tvesa Malik and Durga Nittur, with Neha Tripathi a further shot behind on 1 over 71.

While Tvesa is trying to regain LET status, Durga is seeking to get on Tour for the first time. Malik and Nittur on 2-under 70 and Neha were the only players besides Pranavi under par. 

Nittur had a great finish with four birdies in the last five holes, while tournament favourite amateur Avani Prashanth was one of five players to shoot level par 72s on a home-dominated leaderboard.

Alongside Avani in shared fifth place were Ananya Datar, Ridhima Dilawari, Seher Atwal and Singapore’s Sock Hwee Koh, who had also played at the Hero Women’s Indian Open.

A total of 29 players are in the fray from which the top eight and ties will progress to the LET Q-School Final Stage.

Next step

Pranavi, who dominated the domestic Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour last year has divided her time in 2023 between the Epson Tour in the US and the LET where she is now looking to play full time.

Despite her error-free run, Pranavi said later that she could have gone still better.

“The ball striking was really good, but I missed a few small putts. However, I also made some really good saves. Still, a bogey-free round is good, so overall a good day. I look forward to keeping the momentum going.”

Neha, playing alongside the leader said, “I missed quite a few, but Pranavi was quite impressive.”

Tvesa, who had five birdies and three bogeys said, “It could have been a lot better, but to begin with two-under is ok I suppose. Hopefully, things will be better as this was just the first day. Two more to go.”

Durga was two-over after seven holes but fought on the back nine, swapping birdie for bogey by hole 13 before she birdied four of the last five holes for a fine two-under round.

Mixed bag

Avani was disappointed with her start, particularly on the greens. She had four birdies against as many dropped shots, two of each on either nine.

“I was pretty decent off the tee but I did not putt the best but definitely a low one is coming,” the two-time national champion said later.

“I was in position everywhere so I just have to figure out my putting and I will get a low one.”

While this is the first pre-qualifier, a second one is scheduled at the Golf Club Rotana and Samanah Golf by Nicklaus and Noria Golf Club from December 10 to 12 in Marrakech.

The five-round (90-hole) Qualifying School Final Stage will be held at the Al Maadan Golf Marrakech and Royal Club de Marrakech from December 16 to 20.

Also read: Krauter makes it a German double at Hero Women’s Indian Open