Diksha Dagar
Allerum, Sweden, June 3: Diksha Dagar, fresh from a sixth place finish last week, continued to show fine form and finished strongly with three birdies in the last five holes to move into title contention at the Helsingborg Open in Sweden. The one-time winner on the Ladies European Tour Dagar, is tied second with rounds of 70-69. She is 5-under for 36 holes and trails the leader, South African Nicole Garcia (68-69) by two shots.
Among other Indians Diksha and Vani Kapoor, are sure to make the cut, while Tvesa Malik is on the cut line. Seher Atwal and Amandeep Drall will miss the cut, which is likely to fall at 4-over with Top-60 professionals and ties making the cut. Currently there are also five amateurs at 4-over or better.
Denmark’s Smila Tarning Soenderby, who has not missed a single cut this season, was lying tied second with Diksha.
While Diksha was by far the best Indian, Vani Kapoor, who missed the cut in her last three starts, showed a welcome return to form. She carded 73-70 and at 1-under 143 she is Tied-14th with the position likely to change as others complete their rounds.
In the second round Diksha had a sedate start with one birdie and one bogey in first 13 holes. She finished with three birdies on 14th, 16th and 18th in last five holes and rose to second to move into contention for her second LET win. Diksha’s first win at the 2019 at the Women’s South African Open came on what was only her fourth start on the LET. She has five other Top-10s.
On a windy first day, Diksha had as many as six birdies, but also gave away four bogeys. Starting on the tenth, she was at one point in shared lead but dropped three bogeys against two birdies in her last six holes on the front nine of the Allerum Golf Club.
Of the other three Indians Tvesa Malik (74-74) was on the cut line which is likely to fall at 4-over with Top-60 and ties making the final round. Tvesa, who shot 2-over for the first round, was 4-over for the second round through 15 holes and at 6-over with three holes left, she seemed headed for another early exit. She salvaged the day with birdies on 16th and 18th and finished the day at 74 and a 36-hole total of 4-over.
Seher Atwal (82-71) and Amandeep Drall (78-76) were sure to miss the cut.
Soenderby shot 71-68 and was tied second, while two other players local Swede Caroline Hedwall and Spain’s Ana Pelaez Trivino were also at 5-under, but were yet to complete their second rounds.
Vani Kapoor played a bogey free 2-under 70 on the second day after having three birdies against four bogeys on the first day for a 73.
Local player Caroline Hedwall, Ana Pelaez Trivino from Spain and Nicole Garcia of South Africa carded four-under-par 68s to share the lead after the first round of the Helsingborg Open in Sweden.
