Thidapa leads; Gauri tied 4th
Local golfer Vani Kapoor had predicted that anything could happen after a tough first round at the DGC.
New Delhi: Local golfer Vani Kapoor had predicted that anything could happen after a tough first round at the DGC. On Friday at the Hero Indian Women's golf, her views were justified with just eight golfers returning under-par cards in a field of 107 to throw open the race for the title.
Even the prominent names struggled, owing to tough course conditions and swirling wind adding to their woes on the second day of the $300,000 tri-sanctioned event. Overcoming the challenges, overnight joint leader Thidapa Suwannapura of Thailand took the sole lead despite a two-over 74, and will go into the final day with one-stroke advantage. After the opening day's 66, the 21-year-old Thai was 4-under 140, ahead of Frenchwomen Valentine Derrey (66, 75) and 17year-old Charley Hull of England (69, 72), who closely followed the leader on 141.
Gauri in contention Meanwhile, DGC amateur Gauri Monga (73, 70), starting the day at tied 13th, was rewarded for her consistent round of two-under as she was tied fourth with Thai Sharaporn Chamchoi (73, 70) on 143. Top pro Sharmila Nicollet (75, 78) was lucky to survive the cut, after her birdie-less round of sixover, which had a triple bogey on the last hole.
Among other Indians to make the cut were Simi Mehra (150), Vani Kapur and Rhea Nair (151), amateurs Aditi Ashok and Gurbani Singh (153) among others.
Order of Merit leader Neha Tripathi (74, 75) had an eventful round of three-over, which had an eagle, four bogeys, one double and a birdie. She stayed at tied 30th on fiveover 149.