Srinagar: Nalini Singh Siwach took a one-shot lead despite dropping three bogeys in the last five holes of the first round of the fourth leg of the Hero-WGAI at the picturesque Royal Springs Golf Course in Srinagar. Nalini, still looking for this season’s first win on the domestic Tour, two-under through 10 holes, was one ahead of veteran Smriti Mehra (74).

Vani Kapoor, leading the Order of Merit and winner last week, struggled to a 76 and was lying sixth. Sharmila Nicollet has skipped this week’s event, too.

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

Ankita Tiwana and Shraddhanjali Singh shot 75 each to be tied for third, while Neha Tripathi carded 76 and Vani Kapoor, winner last week, had a tough time finding birdies before ending with a 77.

With the first three legs of the Hero-WGAI having produced three different winners, Nalini, who is yet to win this season, staked her claim with a fine round. Nalini finished third in the first two events and was fourth in the third leg.

In the first round of the fourth leg she had three birdies against one bogey within the first holes, but after that she managed only one more birdie, against four bogeys.

Smriti Mehra, who won the second leg, had five bogeys and three birdies, including one on the last, the 18th. Smriti was particularly disappointed at having bogeyed each of the four par-fives.

Ankita Tiwana had only two birdies against five bogeys, while Shraddhanjali Singh had three birdies against four bogeys and one double bogey.

Vani Kapoor opened in style with a birdie on par-5 first, but thereafter struggled to sink her birdie putts. She also dropped a bogey on fourth and a double on ninth. On the back nine, she bogeyed the 10th and 11th and 18th. She was lying sixth.

*Tee times for round 2*

9:00 AM: Nikki Ponappa (83)/ Pallavi Jain (83)

9:10 AM: Preetinder Kaur (80)/ Vandana Agarwal (79)

9:20 AM: Tavleen Batra (A) (79)/ Saaniya Sharma (79)/ Meghna Bal (79)

9:30 AM: Vani Kapoor (77) / Neha Tripathi (76) /Shraddhanjali Singh (75)

9:40 AM: Ankita Tiwana (75) / Smriti Mehra (74) / Nalini S. Siwach (73)

By Indian Sports News Network