Report by Anand Datla
March 03, 2015: Saaniya Sharma survived a torrid start to the first round of the 7th leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour at Pune to gain a one shot lead. The golfer from Chandigarh gave away four shots in the first five holes, including a double bogey at the first hole. But Sharma steadied her nerves to settle into a nice rhythm that helped her complete the first round on even terms with the Poona Club Golf Course. Kiran Matharu shot one over 72, while Smriti Mehra and Vani Kapoor lay T3 after making 73 on their sheet.
Sharmila Nicollet and Neha Tripathi rounded out the top five women, making 74 through their march around the beautiful course. But the story of the first round was the terrific fight back by Saaniya. The daughter of an army officer fought gallantly after needing 39 shots to navigate the first nine holes.
In a complete reversal of fortunes, Saaniya made four birdies in the first five holes on the back nine. Eventually she traversed her way to the clubhouse without a single dent on the card – four birdies and five pars accounting for a 32 on the second nine.
“I made mental errors and dropped shots just from off the green,” explained Saaniya. “I went on to focussing on hitting greens instead of over trying. All my birdies that I dropped were well deserved shots that were close to the hole.”
Asked about the course and club selection, “I am hitting the ball really well. Pune golf course layout doesn’t permit pulling out the driver everywhere,” told the golfer. “So you have to use your brains and plan where you want to approach the greens from. It’s better laying up on certain holes and have a short iron or mid iron instead of wedges and chips onto the green.”
Matharu also enjoyed a clean sheet on the back nine, having taken three bogeys on her way out. Last week’s winner at the Oxford Club, also in Pune, Smriti Mehra signed on a 73 with four bogeys and two birdies.
Vani suffered a double at the fourth but prevented any further damage by making three birdies to offset an even number of bogeys through her journey across the course.
Golfing Indian caught up with Kapoor at the end of her round. “I missed a chip-putt on the 17th after hitting a great drive,” ruminated Vani. “I dint have a shot as the tree was coming in the way. At the 18th, I had a three putt.”
“I am hitting the ball well and my game looks good,” added Vani. “Just a week went without a win,” she reminded. “I hope to cover up this week :)”
Nicollet promised a lot as she got through the front nine in just 33 shots, with consecutive birdies at the 7th and 8th holes. But she was far from convincing through the return stretch, conceding three bogeys and a double at the 14th to sign on a 74.
Tripathi made consecutive bogeys to begin her day, before adding two more bogeys and a double bogey on 11 to tarnish her card. Fortunately, she also shot birdies at 6, 13 and 18 to finish with a 74 and remain in T5.
