Domestic Order of Merit leader Hitaashee Bakshi scripted a 12-shot turnaround in the second round of the Hero Women’s Indian Open on her home DLF course on Friday. Image courtesy LET.
By Rahul Banerji
Singapore rookie Shannon Tan and England’s Alice Hewson shared the halfway lead even as seven Indians qualified for the business end of the $400,000 16th Hero Women’s Indian Open at the DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurgaon on Friday.
Tan and Hewson were the only two in the 114-strong field to have sub-par totals against their names after 36 holes on 2 under 142 on a day it was hard to get even a level par score on the board.
DLF player Hitaashee Bakshi, however stole the limelight with a 4 under 68 to follow her opening 80, a 12-shot swing that carried the domestic Order of Merit leader into the top 20 of the only Ladies European Tour event in all of South Asia.
Hitaashee at joint 15th was one of only nine players in the field to break par. On 4 over 148 after two rounds, though, she was placed behind Pranavi Urs (74-71) and Ridhima Dilawari (74-73) who were seventh and 12th respectively.
Pranavi, who has had an eye-catching LET debut season was 1 over 145 while Ridhima was on 3 over 147.
Joining the three in the weekend rounds from the 27 Indians in contention were two-time LET winner Diksha Dagar (78-72, T24), Vani Kapoor (75-77), Ananya Garg (78-75) and Tvesa Malik (77-77) among the professionals, and amateurs Mannat Brar (76-75) and Janneya Dasanniee (76-77).
Urs, who has four top 10 finishes in her rookie LET season, including a tied third at the Dormy Helsingborg in May, was sanguine about her progress at her home Open.
Patience pays
“Yesterday I started slow. I started with three bogeys, but DLF is such a course that you can go five under, and you can also go five over. So I think you just have to be patient, which I was yesterday, for a two-over.
“Today I started off pretty good, and I think I was just consistent. And, I’m happy with the 1 under. I think my putting has been good both days and my pace has been very good which really helps with greens like this. Just happy with the play.”
On her plans for the third round, the 21-year-old from Mysore who is 27th on the LET Order of Merit added, “Tomorrow I’ll not be aggressive, but try just sticking to the plan and trying to hit as many regulations as possible. And, hopefully it goes well.”
Hitaashee returned an unexpected 8 over 80 on Thursday but bounced back strongly on the second day even as pre-event favourite and LET Order of Merit leader Chiara Tamburlini missed the cut.
The Swiss star, who leads the Order of Merit with three wins in her rookie season, continued to struggle on the firm DLF greens to card a 9 over 81 on Friday after opening with a 74 on Thursday.
After her round, Hitaashee said, “After I finished my round one, I had a quick chat with my coach. We discussed a couple of things. And we were pretty set what I had to do today.
Simple stuff
“We didn’t really do anything fancy. We just wanted to keep it simple – one shot at a time.
“I think that was the most important thing for me because I started off with two bogeys in three holes but all I could think of was to just not give up till the last putt. So we just kept on playing one shot at a time.”
Tamburlini had travelled to Delhi with her season’s third title in Taiwan but had a card on Friday that included a triple bogey, three double bogeys and three bogeys against two birdies.
Tan (71-71), who made her LET debut with victory at the Magical Kenya Open at the very start of the season, later said she followed the template of the first round on Friday.
“I had the same gameplan today as yesterday, especially on this course. I focused on hitting fairways and greens and knowing which part of the green would be the safest option.
“You have to be disciplined around here. The fairways are quite tight and the greens quite firm and slopey. Lots of different sections on the green.
“I think that’s why it’s a bit tougher. I think being a rookie you know what your limit is in terms of how many events in a row you can play.
“That’s the good thing about your first year. You figure out what works best for you in terms of travel schedule and everything else.
Looking ahead
“Also learning that it’s all right to have a bad patch. One bad tournament isn’t the end of the world. Even the best players have bad rounds. It’s completely human so it’s been one step back, two steps forward.”
Hewson, who had a 2 under 70 to go with her opening 72, was pleased with her performance. “It’s been solid so far,” the two-time LET winner said.
“The course is really challenging this week. It’s firm, the greens are fast. It’s difficult to get close to a lot of the greens. So me and my caddie are just plotting our way around slowly but surely. So far it’s paying off.
“I managed to hit quite a few irons shots close today. I’ve been driving it well pretty much the whole two days apart from one today [on the 8th] which cost me a double. Other than that I’ve kept it in play pretty consistently and been able to get some irons close.
Day two co-leader Alice Hewson of England in action at the DLF course on Friday. Image courtesy LET.
“I like it here in India. I came here a couple of years ago. I didn’t come here last year because it didn’t quite fit my schedule. But I’m happy to be back.
“It’s a much fiddlier golf course than what we usually play which I think probably plays to my strengths. I don’t particularly hit it too far but I’m usually accurate. I’m just trying to play to my strengths.”
Added Ridhima, who dropped a late bogey in her 73, I think both days yesterday and today I was very steady on the course, didn’t make too many mistakes and just kept it together, hit a lot of greens.
“That’s always useful with how the course is playing this week, it’s not very easy. So it’s good to make a lot of pars. Everything’s been sort of good, I’m pretty happy with everything.
“You always feel like you leave a couple of shots out in every round. I feel like I could have done it just a little bit better but I’m still pretty satisfied.
“I’ve been trying to think a little bit better on the course and just be more confident and assertive and just trust myself a little bit more.:
Also read: Sara Kouskova is surprise early Hero Women’s Indian Open leader
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