August 03, 2016: As picturesque as the Hyderabad Golf Club course might be, it is a beast with fangs. The HGC course bared its worst today, leaving the women scrambling to just survive in a difficult first round. Amandeep Drall, six over 77, was the best score on the first day of the 12th Leg of the Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour. Shweta Galande is in second place, trailing by one shot. Neha Tripathi and Ankita Tiwana made 79 each.
Five time winner this season, Vani Kapoor struggled to an 86 that sent her near the bottom of the leaderboard. Vani is nine shots off the pace, after getting through the physically gruelling day.
Amandeep started off with four straight pars, before conceding four shots over the next five holes. That was despite a birdie at the par-3 seventh hole, courtesy a pair of bogeys and a double at the par-5 eighth hole.
She added six pars and three bogeys on her way home – scoring 38 and 39 respectively on the two stretches around the beautiful courses.
Shwetha endured a run of five bogeys at the beginning of the second nine that needed 41 strokes to post the second best score on the day.
Neha gave away five shots in the first five holes, including a double bogey at the par-4 third hole. But she played with greater discipline from there to sign on an eight over score of 79.
Ankita Tiwana, along with Trisha Sunil, were the only women to score three birdies on Wednesday. But Ankita also made eight bogeys and a triple at the eighth to end the day with a 79.
Mehar Atwal and Sharmila Nicollet made 80 to round out the top five at the end of the first day. Ayesha Kapur, at one under through four holes had the best start on the day, but she made three double bogeys on the way to an 81.
Vani was a picture of misery after a forgettable day of golf. She made three double bogeys and a quadruple bogey nine at the 17th hole, on her way to an 86. Only Sonam Chugh with an 87 is behind Vani in a field of sixteen golfers.
