Amateur Avani tied with seasoned Vani and Amandeep in 10th leg of Hero WPGT

Chandigarh, Oct 14: Amateur Avani Prashanth overcame a string of bogeys on the front nine to stay in touch with seasoned professionals Vani Kapoor and Amandeep Drall to share the lead after two rounds of the 10^th leg of the Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour at the Chandigarh Golf Club.

Amandeep Drall (68-74) had an off day with three bogeys on the front nine against just one birdie on the back, while Vani Kapoor (72-70) showed form and rhythm of the old with six birdies against an opening double bogey and two bogeys, including a late one on 17^th, for a round of 2-under 70.

Vani, who has been trying to re-discover the form that made her a dominant force on the domestic circuit, was in a terrific run through the second round. Despite a double bogey on first, she quickly fought back with birdies on second and third and then added another birdie on seventh to turn in one-under. On the back nine, after a bogey on 10^th she reeled off three birdies in a row from 12^th to 14^th but dropped a shot on 17^th.

Avani, who also opened with a bogey had four bogeys against three birdies in her card of 73.

With totals of 2-under 142 each, the three will go out together in the final group on the final day and it promises to be a tight battle, as Vani and Amandeep seek their first win in 2021 and Avani chases her second title this year.

Jahanvi Bakshi, who carded 71 in the first round, was 1-over 73 and was lying two shots adrift of the three leaders in sole fourth place. Her sister Hitaashee (75-73), was tied alongside amateur Puneet K Bajwa (72-76) in fifth place. Rhea P Saravanan (75-74) and Gaurika Bishnoi (75-74) were tied seventh at 149, while Pranavi Urs (75-75) and Seher Atwal (71-79) completed the Top-10.

The cut fell at 158 and among the prominent names missing from the final day draw were Afshan Fatima and Smriti Mehra.

A total of 22 players will play the final round in the Rs.10 lakh event.

 

Tee times for Round 3 in the 10^th leg of the Hero Women’s Pro golf Tour at the Chandigarh Golf Club:

 

1 8:30 AM: Anisha Agarwalla 158; Rhea Jha 158;

2 8:40 AM:  Neha Tripathi 158; Durga Nittur 157;

3 8:50 AM:  Jyotsana Singh 156; Oviya Reddi 156; Shagun Narain 155;

4 9:00 AM: Khushi Khanijau 153; Kriti Chowhan (A) 153; Saaniya Sharma 152;

5 9:15 AM: Rishika Muralidhar (A) 152; Lakhmehar Pardesi 151; Seher Atwal 150;

6 9:25 AM: Pranavi Urs 150; Gaurika Bishnoi 149; Rhea P Saravanan 149;

7 9:35 AM: Puneet K Bajwa (A) 148; Hitaashee Bakshi 148; Jahanvi Bakshi 144;

8 9:45 AM: Amandeep Drall 142; Avani Prashanth (A) 142; Vani Kapoor 142.