The Bakshi sisters, Jahanvi and Hitaashee, took centre stage on the first day of the second leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour at the TNGF Cosmo Golf Course, as they occupied the top spots after the first round. Jahanvi, still looking for her first professional win, carded the day’s best of three-under 69, while younger sister, who logged her breakthrough win in December, carded one-under 71 to be tied second alongside Neha Tripathi, whose effort indicated a welcome return to form.
Pointing to the growing depth in Indian women’s golf, there were two amateurs in the bunch of five players who shot even par 72 to be Tied-fourth. The five were Pranavi Urs, runner-up last week in Bengaluru, Khushi Khanijau, Ananya Datar and amateurs Sneha Singh, already a winner on the pro Tour, and Avani Prashanth.
Vani Kapoor and Oviya Reddi carded 73 each to complete the top10.
Jahanvi, who inspired her younger sibling Hitaashee to take up golf, showed no indication of a blistering round as she was two-over through seven holes with bogeys on second and sixth. Then she exploded into superb form with birdies on eighth and ninth to make the turn in even par.
On the back nine, Jahanvi added birdies on 11th, 13th, 15th and 16th to get to four-under before a bogey on the closing 18th saw her finish the day at 69. Till then, Hitaashee was holding the lead with a 71 that had three birdies, one of them on closing 18th, and two bogeys.
A group later, Neha Tripathi, who has not tasted victory since the first leg of the 2019 season, joined Hitaashee in shared second place.
Amandeep Drall and Saaniya Sharma scored 74 each to be Tied-11th.
There were two eagles on the day, one each by Seher Atwal and Rhea Jha, both of whom shot 75 to be tied-13th alongside last week’s winner, Ridhima Dilawari, who had a rough day, and Shweta Mansingh.
The second day shall see a rare and interesting sight with sisters Jahnavi and Hitaashee grouped together and they play with the experienced Neha Tripathi.
Tee times for the second round of the second leg of the Hero WPGT at TNGF Cosmo Golf Course, Chennai :
7:30 AM : Neeharika Thangamma 87; Mehar Atwal 83;
7:40 AM : Anousha Tripathi 82; Rhea Purvi Saravanan 82; Jyotsana Singh 81;
7:50 AM : Hridika Vora (A) 80; Disha Kavery (A) 80; Durga Nittur 80;
8:00 AM : Hunar Mittal (A) 79; Lakhmehar Pardesi 78; Siddhi Kapoor 78;
8:10 AM : Gauri Karhade 78; Asmitha Sathish 77; Shriya Vivek 77;
8:20 AM : Ishvari Prasanna 76; Rishika Muralidhar (A) 75; Rhea Jha 75;
8:30 AM : Seher Atwal 75; Shweta Mansingh 75; Ridhima Dilawari 75;
8:40 AM : Amandeep Drall 74; Saaniya Sharma 74; Oviya Reddi 73;
8:50 AM : Vani Kapoor 73; Avani Prashanth (A) 72; Pranavi Urs 72;
9:00 AM : Ananya Datar 72; Sneha Singh (A) 72; Khushi Khanijau 72;
9:10 AM : Neha Tripathi 71; Hitaashee Bakshi 71; Jahanvi Bakshi 69;
WGAI Tour Release, Jan 21, 2021
