Smriti takes two-shot lead on tough scoring day at Hero-WGAI golf

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Gurgaon, September 26: The course continued to pose a big challenge for the golfers, but Smriti Mehra, used all her experience to bring in a  modest two-over 74 even as the others struggled in difficult scoring conditions in hot weather. She put herself in line for a third title this season and that could extend her lead over the Order of Merit.

Smriti, who virtually blew away the title last week with a quadruple bogey in the closing leg of the fifth leg of the Tour, is now seven-over 151, but two shots clear of last week’s winner, Nalini Singh Siwach (77) is at 153.

Saaniya Sharma (76) was two shots further at 155, while Neha Tripathi (80) was lying fourth at 157. Vani Kapoor, who struggled on the first day was better off on the second with a round of 75, way better than her first round 83, to be fifth at 158. Preetinder Kaur (82) completed the top at 163.

On what was a tough day to score, Smriti Mehra alone managed two birdies, one each on the ninth and 18^th, while she had bogeys, first, third, fifth and 14^th holes.

Nalini looked to have found a rhythm on the front nine with one birdie and two bogeys but she had a difficult time on the back nine, where she bogeyed four times and had no birdies.

Saaniya had one birdie and five bogeys, while Neha was started with a triple and had two more bogeys on second and third as managed a lone birdie on ninth. On the back nine she double bogeyed the 13^th and 18^th.

Vani had three bogeys on front nine and played steady with nine pars in a row on the back nine.

This is the sixth leg of the Hero-WGAI Women’s Pro Tour and five different players have won titles with Smriti Mehra being the only multiple winner.