Diksha Dagar makes a brave start at Australian Ladies Classic

Diksha Dagar made three birdies in a gritty opening round 71 even as her senior colleagues stumbled down the order under testing conditions. Doey Choi took a two-stroke lead with a fine 66

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Diksha Dagar holds plenty of promise

21 February 2019: A gritty 71 in the opening round of the Australian Ladies Classic helped Diksha Dagar end the day at T9. Diksha made bogeys on the first and seventeenth holes, but more than made up for them with fine birdies on the 5th, 10th and 14th holes. The rest of the Indians though left themselves a mountain to climb on Friday. At the top of the leaderboard, amateur Doey Choi trumped her more seasoned rivals at the Pacific Bay Resort, with a brilliant 66 on Thursday.

Tvesa Malik, playing the week on a sponsor’s exemption along with Amandeep Drall and Diksha started her week with a 75, lying in T72 at 3-over through 18 holes. Astha Madan was close on the heels of Tvesa at 77.

Vani Kapoor made a disappointing 79 as she continues her season down under. The 25-year-old found the going tough as she stumbled down the order on a card of seven over, laced with seven bogeys and a double-bogey six at the second hole.

Amandeep was further back at 80, the slowest starter among the Indian contingent.

Doey Choi (AUS) thanks the gallery on the 18th green having made a birdie during the first round. Credit: Tristan Jones

Choi is the reigning Queensland and South Australian Women’s Amateur Champion, showing why she is rated highly by snatching a two-stroke advantage over the Swedish duo of Madelene Sagstrom and Daniela Holmqvist.

Sharing the space at fourth are another Swede, Jenny Haglund alongside western Australians Hannah Green and Whitney Hillier. Later in the afternoon session, Nuria Iturrios from Spain shot a bogey-free 69 to join the other three women at T4.

“I didn’t play too good last week so confidence wasn’t too high. I haven’t been hitting it that great, so it was nice to play some solid golf today,” said Choi.

“There’s a little bit more pressure now, for the next few rounds, so hopefully I can play some more solid golf and be up there.”

 

With the weather expected to be wet and windy on Friday, the five Indian ladies will have their task cut out to secure their presence through the rest of the week, especially the four women besides Diksha who enjoys some cushion at the moment.