Sneha Singh in line for back-to-back wins with BPGC co-lead

By Rahul Banerji

Former national champion Sneha Singh put herself in line for back-to-back wins with a second 2-under 68 on the second day of the third leg of the Hero WPGT at the Bombay Presidency Golf Club on Thursday.

Starting two shots behind day one leader Amandeep Drall, and one behind second placed Hitaashee Bakshi and Seher Atwal, the Hyderabad-based Sneha had three birdies against one bogey.

Sneha is now 4-under 136 and shares the lead with Hitaashee (67-69), who is seeking her first win of the season and also the first since December 2020.

Hitaashee’s sister Jahanvi Bakshi, who won four times in 2021 and was the top pro last week when Sneha won, shot a 68 in the second round.

Amandeep dropped four shots against two birdies on the day for a 72 and slipped from the lead to third on 2-under 138.

Pranavi Urs, winner of the season-opener, was one of three players to shoot 68 in the second round.

Her card, which had a birdie-birdie finish, saw the Mysore golfer climb to fourth on 1-under 139.

Falling away

Gaurika Bishnoi (69-72) started the day with an eagle on the par-5 first but then had two bogeys and a double for a 72 that put her in tied fifth place alongside Rhea Purvi Sarvanan (71-70).

Jahanvi Bakshi (75-68) and Neha Tripathi (70-73) shared seventh place, while Ridhima Dilawari (68-76) slipped to ninth with a score that was 12 shots more than the first day.

Tvesa Malik made a marginal improvement in the second round with a 72 against 73 on Wednesday to be T10 with Seher Atwal, who had a 11-shot swing from her first round score of 67 as she shot 78.

Sneha Singh, after taking her first steps in golf in Kolkata, is now based in Hyderabad and coached by her father, Sanjay Kumar Singh, a former pro on the Indian Tour.

The teenager, who won both the All India Juniors and All India Ladies Amateur titles, has won once in each year since 2019.

If she wins on Friday, it will be Sneha’s fifth win on the pro circuit and the first time she has won twice in a single year.

Round 3 tee times and scores

8:40 am: Astha Madan 157; Trimann Saluja 157

8:50 am: Ananya Datar 156; Saanvi Somu (A) 155; Rhea Jha 154

9 am: Jasmine Shekar (A) 153; Ishvari Prasanna 153; Shagun Narain 152

9:10 am: Smriti Mehra 151; Lakhmehar Pardesi 151; Saaniya Sharma 151

9:25 am: Anousha Tripathi 149; Nishna Patel (A) 148; Khushi Khanijau 148

9:35 am: Avani Prashanth (A) 147; Seher Atwal 145; Tvesa Malik 145

9:45 am: Ridhima Dilawari 144; Neha Tripathi 143; Jahanvi Bakshi 143

9:55 am: Gaurika Bishnoi 141; Rhea Purvi Saravanan 141; Pranavi Urs 139

10:05 am: Amandeep Drall 138; Hitaashee Bakshi 136; Sneha Singh (A) 136

Also read: Amandeep Drall takes early lead in BPGC leg of Hero WPGT