Nalini stays one shot ahead of Smriti at Srinagar Hero-WGAI women’s pro event

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SRINAGAR, September 12: It was a battle between youth and experience as Nalini Singh Siwach continued to hold a one-shot lead over veteran Smriti Mehra at the end of the second round of the Hero-WGAI Women’s Pro Tour on Wednesday. Nalini, still looking for her first title of the season shot a fine two-under 70, which was matched by Smriti, too. But with Nalini holding a one-shot lead from overnight, the lead was still in the favour of the younger golfer.

The 23-year-old Delhi golfer, Nalini, had three birdies and just one bogey, while Smriti had four birdies and two bogeys.

Nalini leads the field with a total of 143 and Smriti is breathing down her neck at 144. Neha Tripathi (73) and Vani Kapoor (73), winner last week, were way behind at 149 and 150. This season the first three events have been won by different golfers and Nalini is seeking to be the fourth.

Saaniya Sharma, who shot a creditable round at even par 72 following her 79 on first day, moved to fifth place at 151. She was followed by Shraddhanjali Singh (79) who slipped after a 75 on first day. Meghna Bal (79-76) was lying seventh while the top amateur Tavleen Batra (78-79) was tied eighth with Ankita Tiwana, who after lying third at the end of the first round slipped down dramatically with a round of 82.

Nalini, who has won three times in the past season, but none this year, had a string of five pars before finding her first birdie on the sixth. She dropped her only shot of the day at eighth, and then added further birdies on 10^th and 13^th and ended at 70.

Smriti, an aggressive player, birdied the first to catch Nalini, but again fell behind dropping a bogey on fourth. Nalini birdied the sixth to go two ahead but bogeyed the seventh and the lead was back to one.

Both birdied the tenth and then Smriti pulled alevel with a birdie on 12^th. Nalini nosed ahead again with a birdie on 13^th. Smriti bogeyed the 14^th and birdied the 16^th to stay one behind.

Neha had one birdie against two bogeys, while Vani had two birdies and three bogeys including back-to-back bogeys on eighth and ninth.

Saaniya had the most birdies on the day with four, but she also had four bogeys in her 72.

This is the first-ever women’s pro event at the RSGC in Srinagar, regarded as one of most beautiful courses in the region. The course has in the past hosted men’s event, but this is the first-ever women’s pro event at the course.

Tee times for Round 3 at Hero-WGAI Womens Pro Tour Leg 4 at RSGC Srinagar

8:30 AM: Nikki Ponappa (162) / Vandana Agarwal (161)

8:40 AM: Pallavi Jain (161) / Preetinder Kaur (158)

8:50 AM: Ankita Tiwana (157) / Tavleen Batra (A)(157)/ Meghna Bal (155)

9:00 AM: Shraddhanjali Singh(154) / Saaniya Sharma (151) / Vani Kapoor (150)

9:10 AM: Neha Tripathi (149) / Smriti Mehra (144) / Nalini S. Siwach (143)