Mumbai, Jan 23 (IANS) Gursimar Badwal and Neha Tripathi shot 2-over 72 to share the lead at the end of the opening round in the second leg of the Hero womens Pro Golf Tour 2018 at the Par-70 BPGC course here on Tuesday.

Smriti Mehra (73), Sharmila Nicollet (74), Gaurika Bishnoi and Tvesa Malik (75) were right behind them, the joint leaders after the first day.

Gursimar had a fine start with two birdies on first and fifth, but a run of three bogeys from ninth to 11th, saw her slip down. She did make up with a birdie on 14th, but a late bogey again on 16th saw her finish at 72.

Later in the day, Neha caught up with a birdie on the 18th, the closing hole.

Smriti may well have been in the lead with three birdies in the last five holes, but a triple bogey on par-4 15th spoiled her card as she ended at 73, one behind the two leaders.

The day’s remarkable comeback came from Sharmila, who had three double bogeys in the first five holes of which two were par-5s. However, Sharmila made a fine recovery over the next 13 holes with four birdies but she had another two bogeys and finished the day with a round of 74.

Gaurika, making her first start of the season, looked a bit rusty as she opened with a bogey and added one more on seventh. A double bogey on ninth meant she turned in four-over 39. On the back nine, she had two more bogeys on 10th and 12th and her lone birdie of the day came on par-3 17th as signed a card of 75.

Tavleen Batra and Suchitra Ramesh carded 76 each and were tied-7th, while Afshan Fatima (77) was ninth. Amandeep Drall, Mehar Atwal, Saaniya Sharma, Ayesha Kapur and Siddhi Kapoor were all tied-10th with rounds of 78 each.

On Wednesday, Gursimar, Neha and Smriti will go out in the lead group, while Sharmila, Gaurika and Tvesa will play together in the second to last group. They will be preceded by Tavleen, Suchitra and Afshan in another group.

–IANS
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