Kolkata, November 13: Gursimar Badwal, currently ranked fourth in the Indian Golf Union (IGU) Ladies golf tour Order of Merit, shot into the lead going into the final day of the USHA Eastern India Ladies & Junior Girls Amateur Golf Championship 2013, being played at the Tollygunge Golf Club course. Gursimar shot a one under 69 at the end of day two, mirroring her day one effort, to pip overnight leader Gurbani Singh to the top of the leaderboard. Gursimar goes into the third and final day with a cumulative score of 138, while Order of Merit leader Gurbani is one shot behind at 139. Former IGU Ladies tour winner Gauri Monga is lying third with a score of 141, three shots off the pace and clearly in with a shot.
Gursimar had an up and down day sinking three birdies but also logging two bogeys during her effort. Gurbani had an uncharacteristic double bogey on the par five 13th to go along with two birdies and another dropped shot at the fifth hole, ensuring that she give up on her lead by the narrowest of margins. Gauri improved on her day one showing by one stroke, carding an even par 70 and will look to finish on a high.
Aditi Ashok of Bangalore led the Category A section with a score of 145 over two days followed by Astha Madan on 146. In the Category B section Suchitra Ramesh (163) topped the standings thus far followed by Riya Ahuja (166) while in the Category C section Sifat Sagoo (166) was leading over Khushi Nehra (172).
While Gurbani and Gauri are known to finish strongly in the ladies section, Gursimar has also been a consistent performer in the season and will look to seal the title with the confidence of being the leader of the pack at the moment. She tees off in the leading pack with Gurbani and Gauri at 9.00am on the final day. Aditi Ashok who is lying fourth among the ladies at the moment, and is a good seven shots off the pace, might be the surprise element if any of the leading pack has a bad day. All in all it will be a cat-fight to the finish for good measure.
