Pranavi Urs has kept herself very much in the running at the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España in Malaga. Image courtesy WGAI.
By Rahul Banerji
Pranavi Urs returned a solid 3 under par 69 to share third place after 36 holes at the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España in Malaga on Saturday.
The Mysore golfer, in her first full season on the Ladies European Tour, opened with a 6 under 66 and was 9 under 135, two shots behind event leader, Carlota Ciganda (67-66) pf Spain.
A former winner pf the Hero Order of Merit at home, Pranavi shared third place with Germany’s Helen Briem (66-69). Slovenia’s Pia Babnik was second after two straight 67s.
Defending champion Aditi Ashok followed her opening 70 with a second round 71 to total 3 under 141 for a share pf 23rd place while two-time LET winner Diksha Dagar (71-72) was T31 and Tvesa Malik (72-75), tied 61st.
Pranavi got off to a good start with two birdies in her first three holes before dropping her only shot of the day on hole eight. She would roll in two more birdies to complete the round.
“I could have holed a lot more putts than dropped, so hopefully in the next couple of days it will,” she said on the LET website.
“The game was pretty solid, I also didn’t give myself as many opportunities as yesterday. I had little mistakes here and there, but that’s golf. It was overall a decent day.
Fantastic atmosphere
“I’m slowly getting used to playing in the last group. The crowd is obviously fantastic here and they’re all cheering for you. It’s been fantastic.”
Ciganda, a seven-time LET winner began the day two shots off the pace and had a bogey-free second day around Real Club Guadalhorce Golf.
She had an early birdie before three more to make the turn in four-under. Ciganda, who won the event in 2021, continued on the back nine with two more birdies to seal a round of 66 and move to the top of the leader board on 11-under-par.
“I’m very happy,” Ciganda said later.“A bogey-free round is always very positive. I like the course, I played very good.
“The back nine, I had a couple of good up-and-downs on 11 and 14 and I managed to make two birdies on 12 and 16, so I’m very happy with six-under today.
“The front nine is a little shorter, so I have shorter clubs, and my wedges are very good this week, so I’ve been hitting it pretty close. Also, the par-fives I think I have birdied them yesterday and today. It’s a little shorter and I’m pretty good with those clubs.
Long season
“It is a long season for sure but it’s always a big week playing here in Spain. I love playing for my country and playing in front of my home crowd.
“It’s always pretty high in my schedule and I feel pretty good so far, hopefully I can maintain and keep playing this good the next two days,” added Ciganda on the :ET website
The 20-year-old Babnik, who has her brother on the bag, carded a bogey-free round of 67 (-5) for the second day in a row to be in outright second place after 36 holes.
Also read: Pranavi Urs sits in tie for second place after day 1 at Andalucia
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