Aditi and Tvesa
New York, Oct 14: Aditi Ashok (74) and Tvesa Malik (76) endured a tough and testing opening day during which only five players broke par at the Aramco Team Series – New York. Aditi and Tvesa had just one birdie each, but the former dropped three bogeys to Tvesa’s five bogeys.
Despite scores that may have disappointed both, Aditi was lying Tied-22nd and Tvesa was Tied-41st.
Tvesa was however part of the team that lead in the competition in the side led by Leona Maguire, which also has Liz Young and amateur Golden Tate. Tvesa is seeking to become the second Indian players after Diksha Dagar to be part of the winning team in the Aramco Series. Diksha was a member of the winning team in London in 2021.
On a difficult day, Leona Maguire, Liz Young, Tvesa Malik and amateur Golden Tate joined forces to reach a total of 11-under-par at Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point. They hold a one-shot lead.
The quartet made the turn in five-under having dropped just one shot on their front nine and came home in six-under to be at the top of the leader board on day one.
Tvesa Malik explained: “It’s really fun, it’s nice to have a team and be part of something that’s bigger. The time just flies by, and it keeps you playing for something more than just your own score.”
The team’s amateur member, Golden Tate is a former Super Bowl winner.
Tvesa is seeking a good result this week and in the two others starts she may have been left with this season, to improve her position on the LET Order of Merit. Aditi, who has also had a modest season on the LPGA, is also seeking to get some momentum ahead of the last few events of the year.
The two fly back home next week for their own Hero Women’s Indian Open, which Aditi won in 2016.
Meanwhile, Belgium’s Manon De Roey fired four-under-par 68 to top individual standings. She leads by two shots.
It was a good day for captain De Roey after she carded a bogey-free round of 68 (-4) to lead the individual standings by two shots. USA’s Nelly Korda and Sweden’s Madelene Sagström sit in second place on two-under-par having shot rounds of 70 on day one.
American Lexi Thompson and two-time LET winner Pia Babnik sit one shot further back in T4 on one-under-par.
Six players round out the top 10 having carded a round of level par including South Africa’s Garcia, Canada’s Brooke Henderson, Wales’ Chloe Williams, Australia’s Steph Kyriacou, England’s Annabel Dimmock and Scotland’s Kylie Henry.
Team Peláez Trivino made up of Spain’s Ana Peláez Trivino, who is headed to India next week, besides South Africa’s Nicole Garcia, France’s Emma Grechi and amateur Michael Singer sit in second place on 10-under-par.
In third place is Team Nelly Korda comprised of the world number four alongside Finland’s Noora Komulainen, France’s Celine Herbin and amateur James Rawson on eight-under-par.
The second round begins on Friday at 8.45am (local time) and it will see the conclusion of the Team event.
