Ridhima rides a roller-coaster to take the lead at Zion Hills

Ridhima Dilawari had a roller-coaster second round to end with a four-stroke lead on day two of the Zion Hills leg of the Hero WPGT on Thursday. Image courtesy WGAI.

By Rahul Banerji

Zion Hills continued to provide plenty of ups and down as Ridhima Dilawari swapped seven birdies for three bogeys and a double in her 2 under par 70 to take a four-shot lead on Thursday.

Winless since 2022, Ridhima rose to the top after starting out in third place in the 10th leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour at the Kolar venue near Bangalore, the WGAI said.

Ridhima was three under after the first five holes, but she gave away four shots over the next four holes with back-to-back bogeys on holes six and seven and the double on nine for a 1-over 37.

Birdies on 10 and 12 were followed by a bogey on 13. More gains on 14 and 16 ensured a solid finish.

Slipping up

Overnight leader Neha Tripathi (69-77) slipped on the day with one birdie, four bogeys and a double, while Amandeep Drall made a big move with a second straight round of 73. 

Amandeep had four birdies, three of which came between holes 10 and 13, besides three bogeys and a double. Amandeep and Neha were tied for second at 2-over 146.

Amateur Saanvi Somu carded one of the three sub-par rounds with a 71 that had four birdies against three bogeys.

Oviya Reddi (73) and Seher Atwal (75) were tied for fifth at 4-over 148.

Vani Kapoor improved on her first round with a 70 that took her to tied-seventh place alongside Heena Kang (72), Gauri Karhade (73) and Durga Nittur (79) as they completed the Top-10 at 5-over 149.

A total of 27 players made the cut for the final round.

Scores and round 3 tee times

8 am: Yashita Raghav 161, Gourabi Bhowmick 161, Rhea Jha 160

8:10 am: Ceerat Kang (A) 160, Anvvi Dahhiya (A) 159, Agrima Manral 159

8:20 am: Dia Cris Kumar (A) 158, Jasmine Shekar 157, Kriti Chowhan 156

8:30 am: Khushi Khanijau 156, Jahaanvie Walia 156, Snigdha Goswami 155

8:40 am: Keya K. Badugu (A) 155, Sneha Singh 154, Tanishka Prithvi (A) 151

8:55 am: Nayanika Sanga 150, Lavanya Jadon 150, Durga Nittur 149

9:05 am: Gauri Karhade 149, Heena Kang 149, Vani Kapoor 149

9:15 am: Seher Atwal 148, Oviya Reddi 148, Saanvi Somu (A) 147

9:25 am: Neha Tripathi 146, Amandeep Drall 146, Ridhima Dilawari 142

Also read: Late birdie gives Neha Tripathi slim day one lead at Zion Hills