Gursimar, Sonam in joint lead
Gursimar Badwal lived up to her favourite billing as she took a share of the opening round’s lead in the fifth leg at the Jaypee Greens in Greater Noida on Wednesday with a two- under 70 alongside surprise package Sonam Chugh.
One shot behind them was Neha Tripathi, still in search for her first title of the season. The top three were the only players with sub- par rounds on the opening day.
Amateur Tanirika Singh ( 73) shared fourth place with Anisha Padukone while Ayesha Kapur and Saaniya Sharma carded 74s each to be T6. Last week’s winner and runner- up, Tvesa Malik and Suchitra Ramesh were T8 on 75 alongside Afshan Fatima.
Gursimar, who has finished in the top five each of the first four legs, dropped an early shot but quickly made up with a birdie. A further dropped shot on fifth was against soon neutralised. After that she did not drop a
One shot behind them was Neha Tripathi, still in search for her first title of the season
single shot for next 12 holes but picked up birdies on ninth and 11th. Her back nine was flawless with one birdie. She is well placed to push for a win and a return to the top spot on the Hero Order of Merit.
Sonam, who has not finished in the top 10 in any her of three starts so far this season, had an incredible seven birdies, four on the front nine and three on the back nine.
However, she also dropped five shots while Neha had three birdies against two bogeys in her round.
Tanirika carded a 73, which had two birdies against three bogeys and Anisha had three birdies against four bogeys.
Siddhi Kapoor ( 76) was 11th while Smriti Mehra and Mehar Atwal were T12 with 78s.