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

By Rahul Banerji

The consistent Jahanvi Bakshi played steady golf to take a one-shot lead over her sister, Hitaashee in the first round of the 12^th leg of the Hero WPGT in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

Barring the opening leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour in 2021, Jahanvi has finished in the top five in each of the last 10 legs with two wins and three runner-up finishes.

Playing at the Hyderabad Golf Club Jahanvi had a birdie on the second and 10^th holes but dropped a shot on 12 for her 1-par under 70, the only sub-par round of the day.

Hitaashee, who has also won on the Tour, had bogeys on the fourth and fifth, holes but neutralised them with birdies on the seventh and 14^th for a level par 71.

If Jahanvi carries on in this vein, it could mean a third title for the year, as she and amateur Avani Prashanth, who is not here this week, are the only ones to have won more than once.

The experienced Gaurika Bishnoi, recently back from a European stint, seemed headed for trouble as she had four bogeys even before making the turn.

Recovering well

She recovered much of that ground with birdies on 9, 12 and 16 to finish at a respectable 1-over 72. Gaurika is seeking to end a title drought since June 2019.

Vani Kapoor, who has not won since March 2020, amateur Sneha Singh winner of the eighth leg this season, and Hero Order of Merit leader, Amandeep Drall were tied fourth on 2-over 73s.

Lakhmehar Pardesi, who won her maiden Hero WPGT title this year was seventh with 74 while Shagun Narain, Rhea Jha and Khushi Khanijau were tied for eighth on 75.

Pranavi Urs and Ridhima Dilawari had a disappointing start with 76s each.

In fact, Ridhima had one par on the front nine and four on the back nine. She had six birdies, four bogeys, two doubles and one triple bogey in a roller-coaster of a round 5-over 76.

Round 2 tee times and scores

8:30 am: Hunar Mittal (A) 85; Rishika Muralidhar (A) 82;

8:40 am: Disha Kavery 82; Asmitha Sathish 80;

8:50 am: Oviya Reddi 78; Rhea P Saravanan 78; Jyotsana Singh 77

9:05 am: Saaniya Sharma 77; Neha Tripathi 76; Seher Atwal 76;

9:15 am: Smriti Bhargav (A) 76; Ridhima Dilawari 76; Pranavi Urs 76;

9:25 am: Shweta Mansingh 76; Trimann Saluja 76; Khushi Khanijau 75;

9:40 am: Rhea Jha 75; Shagun Narain 75; Lakhmehar Pardesi 74;

9:50 am: Amandeep Drall 73; Sneha Singh (A) 73; Vani Kapoor 73;

10 am: Gaurika Bishnoi 72; Hitaashee Bakshi 71; Jahanvi Bakshi 70

Also read: Amandeep out to maintain run at Hyderabad Hero WPGT event