By Rahul Banerji
Even with four dropped shots on the day, Pranavi Urs brought in a second straight 2-under 68 to break away from the field at the Hyderabad Golf Association course on Wednesday.
She now leads the 12th Leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour by four shots on four-under 136 and in the familiarity of the lead.
Closest behind Pranavi was joint first round leader amateur Kriti Chowhan (70) who is now on level par 140.
The third overnight leader, Vidhatri Urs, another amateur and a cousin of Pranavi, shot 73 and slipped to third place at one-over 141.
Local star Sneha Singh, searching for her maiden professional win shot a 69, one of the only two sub-par scores of the day and climbed to fourth place on two-over 142.
Seher Atwal (73) was fifth, while another amateur Heena Kang (73) was sixth.
Gauri Karhade (74) followed in seventh place as Nayanika Sanga (73), Khushi Khanijau (73), Hitaashee Bakshi (74) and amateur Keerthana R. Nair (76) were T8 on six-over 146.
Fast start
Pranavi was off to a fast start with three birdies in the first five holes before she dropped a shot on the seventh.
A birdie on eight followed by a bogey on nine saw her turn in two-under 34.
On the back nine she had a birdie on 10 and then back-to-back bogeys before closing with a birdie for her 68.
Kriti had three bogeys and one birdie in her 72 and Vidhatri had a double bogey, two bogeys and one birdie in her 73.
Sneha had three birdies against two bogeys for her 69.
Pranavi, who has progressed past the first stage of Qualifying School on the LPGA, has already won four times and is looking at a fifth title this season.
She also holds a healthy lead on the Hero Order of Merit ranking.
Scores and round 3 tee times
8:30 am: Shagun Narain 153; Hunar Mittal (A) 152
8:40 am: Agrima Manral 151; Anisha Agarwalla 150; Shweta Mansingh 150
8:50 am: Asmitha Sathish 149; Oviya Reddi 149; Jyotsana Singh 148
9 am: Saaniya Sharma 147; Keerthana R. Nair (A) 146; Hitaashee Bakshi 146
9:15 am: Khushi Khanijau 146; Nayanika Sanga 146; Gauri Karhade 145
9:25 am: Heena Kang (A) 144; Seher Atwal 143; Sneha Singh 142
9:35 am: Vidhatri Urs (A); 141 Kriti Chowhan (A) 140; Pranavi Urs 136
Also read: Amateurs Kriti, Vidhatri share lead with Pranavi at HGA course
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