Vani Kapoor takes lead in Hyderabad leg of women’s pro tour

From the WGAI

Vani Kapoor overcame a late double bogey to take the sole lead in the second round of the 11th leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour at the Hyderabad Golf Club on Thursday.

The 25-year-old, playing her first domestic event this season after a two-month break to recover from niggling injuries, had three birdies against two bogeys and a double in her card of 1-over 72.

Vani is now 4-over 146 overall, three shots clear of nearest rival Gaurika Bishnoi, who shot the day’s best and the week’s first level par round of 71.

Gaurika, one of the only two players with four birdies on the day, also dropped an equal number of shots.

Rough ride

Amateur Shreya Pal was the other player with four birdies, but she dropped numerous shots including a triple bogey on the par-4 18th for a 76.

Ananya Datar overcame a rough front nine of 5-over 40 with a 1-under 35 on the back nine and a day’s card of 4-over 75 that brought her to 151 and put her in shared third place with overnight leader, amateur Sneha Singh (78).

Sneha, the 15-year-old Hyderabad golfer who was outstanding on the first day, had three birdies against eight bogeys and a double for a 7-over 78 on Thursday.

Vani birdied the second, gave the gains back two holes later. She then had another birdie to turn in one-under. On the back nine, she swapped a bogey for a birdie and just as it seemed she was set for a big lead, she had a double bogey to fall back to 1-over 72 for the day.

Neha Tripathi (77), Gurjot Badwal (78), Shreya and Khushi Khanijau (75) occupied the fifth to eighth places. Siddhi Kapoor (78) was ninth, while three players, Suchitra Ramesh (78), Gauri Karhade (79) and Amandeep Drall (82) were tied for tenth.

Ridhima Dilawari and Gursimar Badwal were among the five players tied for 13th on totals of 160.

Tee times for Round 3

7 am: Jyotsana Singh 167, Anousha Tripathi 166, Ishvari Prasanna 165

7:10 am: Tavleen Batra 163, Ridhima Dilawari 160, Gursimar Badwal 160

7:20 am: Afshan Fatima 160, Sonam Chugh 160, Shriya Vivek 160

7:30 am: Amandeep Drall 159, Gauri Karhade 159, Suchitra Ramesh 159

7:40 am: Siddhi Kapoor 158, Khushi Khanijau 156, Shreya Pal (A) 154

7:50 am: Gurjot Badwal 153, Neha Tripathi 152, Sneha Singh (A) 151

8:00 am: Ananya Datar 151, Gaurika Bishnoi 149, Vani Kapoor 146

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