New Delhi: Neha Tripathi, still looking for her first win this season, opened with a round of 75 to take a share of the lead in the seventh leg of the Hero-WGAI women’s Pro Golf tour on Wednesday. Neha shared the lead with veteran Smriti Mehra, who has won three of the six legs held so far in the season.

Behind Neha and Smriti, were Vani Kapoor and Shraddhanjali Singh with cards of 76 each. There were two others Nalini Singh Siwach and Saaniya Sharma, who shot 77 each to be tied for fifth.

Smriti Mehra, four over after 15 holes made a late surge with two birdies on the 16th and 17th, but spoilt her finish with a bogey on the closing 18th.

Neha had just one birdie on the fourth as against four bogeys, two of which came on par-fives.

Poor finish cost Saaniya Sharma and Vani Kapoor a lot. Saaniya Sharma looked set for the lead, but she a nightmarish finish, as she double bogeyed the 16th and then triple bogeyed the 18th, to drop from even par to five over in a matter of three holes. Saaniya was the only player with three birdies and they came in a space of four holes as she birdied the fifth, sixth and eighth holes and turned in even par, but her 41 for the second nine saw her drop down.

Another one to spoil her finish was Vani Kapoor, who was just one-over till she came to the 16th tee. She bogeyed her last three holes to fall to four-over.

By Indian Sports News Network