Neha, Saaniya take lead into final round

Neha Tripathi and Saaniya Sharma dropped crucial shots at the end of their second round but still managed to keep a share of the lead in the fourth leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour in Pune on Thursday.

Saaniya ( 73) and Neha ( 74) are 7- over 151, one shot clear of Tvesa Malik ( 75) and Suchitra Ramesh ( 74).

Saaniya seemed all set to take sole lead when she came to the 18th tee but carded a double bogey. Meanwhile, Neha dropped two shots and fell to 74. Saaniya earlier had a bogey and one birdie.

Saaniya and Neha started with four pars each but after that the former turned in even par. Neha had three bogeys and two birdies to turn in one- over.

On the back nine Saaniya and Neha shot 37s each. Saaniya had two birdies, one bogey and one double, while Neha had one birdie against two bogeys.

While Saaniya and

Saaniya Sharma ( 73) and Neha Tripathi ( 74) are 7- over 151, one shot clear of Tvesa Malik ( 75) and Suchitra Ramesh ( 74)

Neha had problems finishing, Tvesa and Suchitra finished strongly with five good pars each on the last five holes. Tvesa may well have had a share in the lead but for a double and another bogey.

Smriti Mehra ( 76), Millie Saroha ( 76) and Gursimar Badwal ( 78) were fifth to seventh. Gursimar, who won the last event but is facing problems this week, had another indifferent day with a round of 78.

Tavleen Batra who was one of the three co- leaders on first day shot 85 and fell to eighth place.

Siddhi Kapoor ( 84) was ninth while Mehar Atwal ( 80) and Ayesha Kapur ( 82) were tied 10th.