Golfer Vani cards four-under 67 to cement lead in Hero women’s Tour

Bengaluru, June 23 (IANS) Continuing her impressive run, golfer Vani Kapoor carded four under 67 to cement her position atop after the second round of the ninth leg of the Rs 6,00,000 Hero women’s professional Tour at the Clover Greens here on Thursday.

In the process, she opened up a huge nine shot lead over fellow Delhi golfer Gauri Monga, who climbed up the leader board to second position with a total score of 146 going into the final round.

Battling strong winds, Vani put up yet another scintillating performance with a bogey free round, firing two birdies in each half to finish the round with a total score of 137 after 36 holes, nine shots clear of her nearest rival.

Gauri’s round was one of fluctuating fortunes. A string of errors with patches of good play in between were the highlights of her round of two over 73. She carded bogeys on the third, sixth, seventh and 15th holes, with just two birdies on the fourth and 14th.

The final round is expected to witness a close contest with five players tied at the third spot with identical totals of 146 after 36 holes.

Neha Tripathi started impressively, carding a birdie on the first hole. She had two more birdies on the 11th and 15th, but three bogeys on the fifth, 12th and 16th holes neutralised the advantage as she ended the round at level par.

Delhi's Ankita Tiwana had a blemish free front nine with a birdie on the ninth hole. On the return, she carded a double on the 12th and also dropped a shot on the 15th.

Chandigarh’s Saaniya Sharma did not have a good outing as she carded bogeys on the second, eighth, 11th, 15th and 17th holes, with just two birdies on the second and ninth.

Pune's Shweta Galande's card included five bogeys on the fifth, sixth, seventh, 12th and 17th holes. Her two birdies came on the second and ninth holes.

Amandeep Drall had a disappointing start, with a bogey on the very first hole. She dropped five more shots on the third, seventh, 10th, 15th and 18th, but managed to salvage her round with two birdies on the fifth and 17th holes.

Jaipur’s Afshan Fatima is placed eighth with a total score of 151. She is followed by Delhi’s Mehar Atwal at 153 and Kapurthala’s Gursimar Badwal at 154 in ninth and 10th positions respectively.

Local girl Sharmila Nicollet unfortunately had to withdraw on medical grounds before the start of play on Thursday.