Tvesa Malik takes first round lead in 15th leg of Hero WPG Tour

By Rahul Banerji 

Tvesa Malik bounced back from a double bogey for an impressive 1-under 71 and a one-shot lead on day one of the 15th leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour on Wednesday.

Tvesa, current leader on the Hero Order of Merit, double bogeyed the second hole but steadied herself thereafter. She had three birdies against no bogeys for her 71 on the Gary Player layout at the DLF Golf and Country Club.

She leads the seasoned Smriti Mehra, who had three birdies against three bogeys.

Gaurika Bishnoi had four birdies, four bogeys and a double in her 74 that placed her third after the first round.

Debutant Ridhima Dilawari shot 75 to share fourth place with amateur Diksha Dagar. Top draw Vani Kapoor had a disappointing day with three birdies, three bogeys and also a crippling triple bogey on the 10th that ruined her card.

Amandeep Drall, hoping to challenge Tvesa for the Order of Merit, was seventh at 76, while amateur Tanirika Singh and Millie Saroha were Tied-8th at 77.

Four players including Neha Tripathi, Mehar Atwal, Siddhi Kapoor and Afshan Fatima were Tied-10th at 79.

Tapy Ghai ahead

In Ahmedabad, Gurgaon-based professional Tapy Ghai led the Kensville Open with a two-under 70 at the Kensville Golf & Country Club on Wednesday.

The 22-year-old sits on five-under-139 after two rounds.

Delhi’s Sachin Baisoya was second at four-under-140 after a one-over-73.

Ghai (69-70), tied third and two off the lead at the start of the round, went to the top with four birdies and two bogeys on the day.

Ghai, who turned pro last year, sank three birdies on the back nine. But he then dropped two shots before pulling one back with a birdie on the closing hole.

‘Hard work’

Ghai later said, “I’ve worked hard on my game this year and now the results are beginning to show.

“I’ve already had better finishes this season as compared to 2017. My hitting is also much better this season and is improving every week.

“I took advantage of the par-5s today, making birdies on three of them. There was not much wind in the morning and I capitalised on that.

“One needs to play regulation golf here by trying to hit maximum fairways and greens and make putts.”

Overnight leader Baisoya slipped with a 73 that featured an eagle, three birdies, four bogeys and a double-bogey.

Chandigarh’s Akshay Sharma (70) and Abhijit Singh Chadha (72) along with Lucknow’s Sanjeev Kumar (71) were tied third at three-under-141.

The cut was declared at four-over-148. Fifty professionals made the cut.

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