Fiery front nine carries Gaurika into share of Hyderabad lead

By Rahul Banerji

A strong front nine by Gaurika Bishnoi that included four birdies gave her a share of the lead alongside overnight leader Jahanvi Bakshi in the Hero WPGT event on Thursday.

With a day to go at the Hyderabad Golf Club, the co-leaders were on 2-under 140 with Gaurika turning in a 3-under 68 that contained four birdies and a bogey.

Jahanvi had a 70 on the day to match her efforts of Wednesday.

Gaurika (72-68) played a brilliant front nine with four birdies and will want to carry this form into the final day and break a winless streak stretching back to June of 2019.

She made a flying start with birdies on the second, fourth, seventh and ninth holes to turn in 4-under.

A bogey on 11 was Gaurika’s only blemish though she also missed a few chances on the back nine.

Gaurika had a long break during Covid and has since played a few tournaments in Europe. She slowly seems to be getting back the rhythm that made her a star on the Hero WPGT.

Jahanvi birdied the fourth but gave away that gain on the next hole.

A bogey on 13 meant she was over par, but birdies on 15 and 17 ensured a good finish.

Also under par after two days was Vani Kapoor, whose card of 3-under 68 included four birdies, two on either side of the course, against one bogey on the Par-5 10^th.

Good rounds

On a day when the cut was applied at 9-over 151 with 17 making the cut, four players shot under par.

Apart from Gaurika, Jahanvi, and Vani, Khushi Khanijau also carded a 1-under 70 with three birdies against one bogey for a share of fourth place.

Amandeep Drall, who is alongside Khushi had a great birdie run of four in five holes between the sixth and 10^th, but she still managed only 72 as she bogeyed five times, thrice in the last six holes.

Amateur Sneha Singh carded a second successive 73 for T6 with Hitaashee Bakshi, who had four bogeys on the front nine and no birdies through the day.

Sneha had three birdies, three bogeys and a double.

Saaniya Sharma (77-71) and Seher Atwal (76-72) were tied eighth while Ridhima Dilawari (76-73) and Trimann Saluja (76-73) rounded off the top 10.

With the players going off from both tees on the final day, the lead group of Gaurika, Jahanvi and Vani, who are separated by one shot, should be engaged in a tight battle.

However, Khushi Khanijau and the seasoned Amandeep, who are five behind the co-leaders, can still be expected to put up a challenge.

Third round tee times and scores

From 1^st tee

7 am: Saaniya Sharma 148; Hitaashee Bakshi 146

7:10 am: Sneha Singh (A) 146; Amandeep Drall 145; Khushi Khanijau 145

7:20 am: Vani Kapoor 141; Jahanvi Bakshi 140; Gaurika Bishnoi 140

From 10th tee

7 am: Seher Atwal 148; Ridhima Dilawari 149; Trimann Saluja 149

7:10 am: Pranavi Urs 150; Shweta Mansingh 150; Rhea P Saravanan 151

7:20 am: Smriti Bhargav (A) 151; Rhea Jha 151; Lakhmehar Pardesi 151

Also read: Bakshi sisters to the fore as Jahanvi leads by one at Hyderabad