Seher leads Bombay Presidency field with a scorching 65

By Rahul Banerji

Seher Atwal laid down the early marker with a flawless 5-under par 65 on day one of the Hero Women’s Golf Tour event at Bombay Presidency Golf Club on Wednesday.

Still looking for her maiden professional title, Seher was a shot ahead of Amandeep Drall and newly-minted pro Jahnavi Bakshi in the opening round of the third leg of Tour.

Making it a day to remember, Lakhmehar Pardesi (72) and Durga Nittur (73) used 7-irons to sink a hole-in-one each on the par-3 10^th hole.

The 22-year-old Seher, who spent four years playing collegiate golf at Rollins in the US, led a pack of eight players to bring in sub-par cards on the day.

Amandeep was also bogey free during her round of 66 on the par-70 BPGC layout.

She was also the last player to bring a five-under card, which was in March last year in the second round of the sixth leg of the Tour.

The Tour was halted after that event by the pandemic before re-starting in December.

Early gains

Seher, who turned pro last year after returning from the US, was on fire from the very beginning and raced to four-under over the first six holes.

She had one more birdie on 12^th and a few close misses for a superb 65.

Seher’s best finish on the Hero WPGT has been a runner-up in the eighth leg in 2020, where she lost out to Amandeep Drall.

Amandeep, who finished ninth in the first two events of 2021, made two birdies on either side of the 5,718-yard BPGC course.

One of the most consistent players on the Hero WPGT, Amandeep opened and closed the day with birdies and in between had gains on the fifth and 12^th holes as well.

Jahanvi Bakshi, looking to emulate her younger sister Hitaashee as a winner, was T2 a 66 that had six birdies and two bogeys.

Amateur Avani Prashanth was the third player to come back with a bogey-free card. She shot 3-under 67, while Vani Kapoor (68) was fifth.

Ananya Datar, Hitaashee Bakshi and amateur Nayanika Sanga were tied sixth with 69s each.

Despite a low scoring day, some fancied players found themselves well down the leader-board.

Ridhima Dilawari (72) was T11, while Pranavi Urs (75) was T20 and Diksha Dagar (77) 27^th.

Astha Madan struggled to an 82 alongside the indisposed Neha Tripathi for Tied-33^rd place.

Scores and second round tee times

 8 am: Geetika Ahuja 85; Neha Tripathi 82; Astha Madan 82

 8:10 am: Rhea Jha 82; Ishvari Prasanna 81; Saaniya Sharma 80

 8:20 am: Jyotsana Singh 80; Trimann Saluja 79; Oviya Reddi 78

 8:30 am: Diksha Dagar 77; Ayesha Kapur 76; Asmitha Sathish 75

 8:45 am: Shagun Narain 75; Pranavi Urs 75; Sneha Singh (A) 75

 8:55 am: Disha Kavery 75; Mehar Atwal 75; Shriya Vivek 74

 9:05 am: Rhea Purvi Saravanan 74; Vidhatri Urs (A) 74; Khushi Hooda (A) 74

 9:15 am: Lakhmehar Pardesi 73; Gauri Karhade 72; Ridhima Dilawari 72

 9:30 am: Durga Nittur 72; Nishna Patel (A) 72; Shweta Mansingh 71

 9:40 am: Khushi Khanijau 70; Hitaashee Bakshi 69; Nayanika Sanga (A) 69

 9:50 am: Ananya Datar 69; Vani Kapoor 68; Avani Prashanth (A) 67

10 am: Jahanvi Bakshi 66; Amandeep Drall 66; Seher Atwal 65

Also read: Pranavi leads strong field in BPGC leg of women’s pro tour