Moving Day leader Vani Kapoor in action at the Hero Women’s Indian Open on her home DLF course on Saturday. Image courtesy HWIO.
By Rahul Banerji
Vani Kapoor held the Hero Women’s Indian Open 54-hole lead on her home DLF course and looking to go better than her previous best at the tournament heading into the final 18 holes.
After Moving Day at the $500,000 event on her home course, the experienced golfer led the field on 5 under par 211 with rounds of 73, 69 and 69 thus far.
Hard on her heels are a pair of former winners, defending champion Shannon Tan of Singapore at 4 under 212 (68, 77, 67) and Thailand’s three-time HWIO winner Pornanong Phatlum (72, 71, 69).
Aditi Ashok was the last home winner, back in 2016.
Speaking after her third round, Vani remarked on being surrounded by family and friends,“They will keep reminding me that 18 holes are left, and there is work to be done, and that will help.
“I’m pretty stable and didn’t get too excited. It is something I was careful of. That’s the plan with one more day to go,” she added.
Saturday turned out to be another profitable day for the Indian brigade. Battling illness and fatigue, Pranavi Urs, overnight T2, slipped, but only just into a tie for fourth with Argentina’s Magdalena Simmermacher.
Resilient display
It was a show of resilience, and had exhaustion not got the better of her on the back nine, Pranavi could have finished under-par for the third day running.
With the body virtually not responding to the mind, errors crept in and the dropped shots set her back on the final stretch.
“The body is still recovering, and I know it is going to be a grind out there again tomorrow,” said Pranavi.
Tvesa Malik (71, 73, 71; 215) is also in the mix, courtesy of a steady round of 1-under for the day for the sole 8th position.
Top scores
Every year, the Women’s Golf Association of India takes a step towards giving a fillip to its junior programme by inviting junior golfers to be a part of the Hero Women’s Indian Open.
Another initiative on Friday saw 21 girls from the programme tee off with the professionals on Hole 5 of the DLF Golf and Country Club under the ‘Beat the Pro’ programme to give them an experience and flavour of professional golf.
1: Vani Kapoor (IND): 73-69-69 (-5)
2: Shannon Tan (SIN): 68-77-67; Pornanong Phatlum (THA): 72-71-69 (-4)
4: Magdalena Simmermacher (ARG): 68-72-73; Pranavi Urs (IND): 70-70-73 (-3)
6: Camille Chevalier (FRA): 71-70-73; Sara Kouskova (CZE): 69-72-73 (-2)
8: Tvesa Malik (IND): 71-73-71 (-1)
9: Ursula Wikstrom (FIN): 71-72-73 (E)
10: Patricia Isabel Schmidt (GER): 75-73-69; Liz Young (ENG): 75-71-71; Ariane Klotz (FRA): 72-70-75; Chiara Tamburlini (SUI): 67-71-79 (+1)
Also read: Tamburlini keeps HWIO lead with Pranavi Urs on her heels
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