Pedersen steers clear of the ‘ trap’
The newly- opened Black Knight course at the DLF Golf and Country Club bared its fangs on the opening day of the Hero Women’s Indian Open tournament here on Friday.
Only three players — Emily Kristine Pedersen, Saraporn Chamchoi and Giulia Sergas — could manage under- par scores in a field of 114 that struggled to overcome the challenges thrown up by the undulating course.
After the lead had changed hands several times during the day — even Bengaluru amateur Aditi Ashok shared it for a brief while — Pedersen, a 19- year- old from Denmark, grabbed the clubhouse lead with a two- under 70, thanks to her final hole birdie.
Thailand’s Saraporn and Sergas of Italy shared second place on one- under.
“It was up and down for me. My irons were not good but my chips and short game were the best aspect of my game today,” said Pedersen who picked up strokes on holes 6th, 9th, 16th and 18th.
“The greens are tough as well but my putting and short game was good,” added the rookie on the Ladies European Tour.
For most of the Indians, the DLF course has been familiar territory but it wasn’t so on the day following the changes the course has undergone in the past two years.
Amateur Aditi Ashok — who had finished in the top- 10 and top- 15 in the last two editions of the tri- sanctioned tournament — was the best- placed Indian on the day at three- over 75. The 17- year- old Bengalurean had a flawless opening nine. But like most of her fellow players, she found herself in the trap ( back nine).
“I was one- under after nine holes before I made bogeys on the 10th and 11th. I three- putted the 10th hole and hit a poor approach shot on 11th. I made a double bogey on 18th after my second shot went into water. Though I have played here before, the back nine is an entirely new course and a most undulating one.
“I made 34 putts today. I want to improve on that tomorrow,” she said.
Smriti Mehra was fourover after 15 holes when play was stopped due to bad light. She, along with two others, will return on Saturday to finish their first rounds.
Among other Indians, home stars Vani Kapoor and Sharmila Nicollet stumbled to seven- over and six- over, respectively. Last year’s top- 10 finisher Gauri Monga was a big disappointment among the Indians with a score a 24- over.
LET player and Tiger Woods’ niece Cheyenne, who had grabbed the pretournament headlines owing her famous surname, was five- over while defending champion Gwladys Nocera shot a three- over to be tied 19th along side Aditi.