Ridhima hits NGC form to close in on season’s fourth win

By Rahul Banerji

With three wins already behind her, Ridhima Dilawari on Thursday opened up a massive six-shot advantage going into Friday’s final round of the Hero Women’s Pro Tour 14^th leg at the Noida Golf Course.

In the shared lead alongside Diksha Dagar overnight, Ridhima, one of four players to shoot a sub-par round on the first day, was the only one to repeat the effort, as she brought home 71 to go with her first round 69 for a 4-under 140 at the Rs 8 lakh event.

Amandeep Drall, the only other player to shoot under par in the second round, added a 71 to her first round 75 to climb into sole second place on 2-over 146.

Form reversal

Diksha, 69 overnight, saw a severe reversal of form that saw her drop six shots during the second day against no birdies to drop into third place on 3-over 147.

Order of Merit leader Gaurika Bishnoi carded three bogeys and a double on Thursday for a 5-over round of 77 and a 4-over 148 aggregate for fourth place.

Tvesa Malik, the other player apart from Ridhima with three wins this season, did have two birdies, but she also gave away six bogeys and a double bogey.

Her back nine was a nightmare with four bogeys and a double on the Par-5 14^th as she dropped to fifth place at 5-over 149.

Smriti Mehra (77-76) was sixth and Anousha Tripathi (79-76) was seventh. Siddhi Kapoor (82-74) and Saaniya Sharma (78-78) were tied-eighth as three players, Ishvari Prasanna (80-77), Astha Madan (77-80) and Neha Tripathi (77-80) were in tied-tenth place.

In the final round, Ridhima will play with Diksha Dagar and Amandeep Drall, and unless there is a big change in fortunes, Ridhima is looking good to win her fourth title of the season.

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