Vani overcomes tough conditions to lead Classic leg of Hero WPGT

Hero WPGT fifth leg day one leader Vani Kapoor in action at the Classic Golf and Country Club near Gurgaon on Wednesday. Image courtesy WGAI.

By Rahul Banerji 

Vani Kapoor overcame two late dropped shots to hold a one-stroke lead after day one of the fifth leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour at the Classic Golf & Country Club near Gurgaon on Wednesday.

Vani, winner of the fourth leg in Mumbai last month and twice runner-up so far, was 2 under par 70 ahead of good friend Amandeep Drall (71) riding on a closing birdie, the WGAI said.

The two were the only players to go under par on an extremely windy day when scoring was tough.

Rhea Jha was sole third, landing an eagle two on the Par-4 eighth hole but had five bogeys and one birdie in her 74.

Five players were tied for fourth with rounds of 4 over 76 including amateur Ceerat Kang, Anahita Singh, Oviya Reddi, Neha Tripathi and Ridhima Dilawari.

On Wednesday, Vani had four birdies against two bogeys, opening with a par before picking up shots on the second and third holes.

Steady run

The experienced player then knocked in eight pars and another birdie on the Par-4 12^th, dropped back-to-back shots on 16 and 17 but closed with a birdie.

Amandeep Drall opened with a bogey but got the shot back on the fifth.

She dropped another shot on the Par-4 13^th but closed with birdies on holes 14 and 18. Playing in the first group with Gaurika Bishnoi in the morning, Amandeep was the clubhouse leader till Vani overtook her.

Two-time winner this season, Sneha Singh had a rough day with a 5 over 77 that saw her pick just one birdie against six bogeys. She was tied ninth with Yaalisai Verma and Gauri Karhade.

Gaurika, Jasmine Shekar and Shweta Mansingh carded 81s for tied 22^nd place.

Scores and round 2 tee times

7:20 am: Anaggha Venkatesh 86, Vrinda Yadav 85, Aahana Kashyap (A) 85

7:30 am: Disha Kavery 84, Ravjot K. Dosanjh 84, Anvitha Narender 83

7:40 am: Prarthana Khanna (A) 83, Jia Kochhar 82, Riya Yadav 81

7:50 am: Jasmine Shekar 81, Khushi Khanijau 81, Sachika Singh 81

8:05 am: Keerthana Rajeev (A) 81, Shweta Mansingh 81, Gaurika Bishnoi 81

8:15 am: Shagun Narain 80, Anvvi Dahhiya (A) 80, Anisha Agarwalla 80

8:25 am: Astha Madan 80, Snigdha Goswami 79, Chitrangada Singh 79

8:35 am: Durga Nittur 79, Lavanya Jadon 79, Yashita Raghav 78

8:50 am: Kriti Chowhan 78, Sneha Singh 77, Gauri Karhade 77

9 am: Yaalisai Verma 77, Ridhima Dilawari 76, Neha Tripathi 76

9:10 am: Ceerat Kang (A) 76, Oviya Reddi 76, Anahita Singh 76

9:20 am: Rhea Jha 74, Amandeep Drall 71, Vani Kapoor 70

Also read: BPGC winner Vani seeks a repeat at Classic leg of Hero WPGT