Vani leads at Hero Women’s Indian Open as Indians start well

Vani Kapoor made good use of her familiarity with the DLF course to grab the day one lead at the Hero Women’s Indian Open on Thursday. Image courtesy HWIO.

By Rahul Banerji

Vani Kapoor made her best start at the Hero Women’s Indian Open, leading the field by a shot at the DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurgaon on Thursday. 

Vani, who has never missed the cut in her previous 12 appearances at her national open compiled an eye-catching 5 under par 67 on her home course balancing six birdies against a lone dropped shot.

There were as many as four Indians in the Top 10 including amateur Zara Anand in tied second, making it a rare day for the home contingent.

Vani’s gains on Thursday included a hat-trick of birdies on the back nine as she held her nerve over the closing stretch. Her best finish at the event was a tie for sixth in 2017.

“I think the key here is just to keep the ball in play, but that’s easier said than done,” Vani said later. 

“After today’s round, I definitely feel more confident. It’s good to get some good numbers and ensure that I am on the right track.

“I just want to repeat what I did today, one shot at a time. Enjoy this week. Try and not to get overwhelmed.”

Good opportunity

Added Zara who mossed the cut last year, “It’s been pretty good. I’m really grateful for the opportunities that I’ve been given and just hoping to continue it. 

“I played the domestic WGAI event here two weeks ago. Unfortunately, I lost out in the playoff, but it was a good way to get familiar with the course.” 

Amateur prodigy Zara Anand brought her A game to the DLF Golf and Country Club to share second place after the opening 18 holes on Thursday. Image courtesy HWIO.

Joint runner-up in 2024 Shannon Tan of Singapore and Germany’s Verena Gimmy were alongside Zara, who joins college in the US next year, in tied second place with rounds of 4 under 68. 

Zara was three over after her first eight holes but fought back magnificently picking up seven shots in the last 10 holes, including six on the front nine.

Short stint

Verena were briefly tied with Vani for the lead before falling back with a late bogey while mixed five birdies with one bogey in her opening round.

In all, 16 of a surviving field of 109 after two withdrawals, were under par and another nine at level par 72.

Besides Vani and Zara, Durga Nittur and Hitaashee Bakshi returned 2 under 70s for tied sixth place.

Pranavi Urs (72) was T17, Avani Prashanth (73) tied for 26th, while Tvesa Malik, Amandeep Drall and Heena Kang with 74s were in a share of 35^th place.

The leading Indian on the LET rankings, Diksha Dagar had a rough day with a card of 6 over 78 and in shared 82nd place.

Also read: Tan gears up for HWIO 2025 as Indians bank on familiarity