October 27, 2016: Indian golf is on the rise and tide shows no sign of waning. Neha Tripathi took it upon herself to plant the Indian flag in the top ten of the Sanya Ladies Open. Neha Tripathi signed on a two under score of 70 in the opening round at the Yalong Bay Golf Club. Leticia Ras-Anderica produced one of just three clean sheets on the day to tie for the lead with Caroline Hedwall. The two women made 67 each, with three others scoring 68.
Neha Tripathi did not enjoy the best of starts – she conceded a bogey at the par-5 first hole as she began her 14thappearance on the Ladies European Tour.
But she recovered well to strike consecutive birdies at the third and fourth holes to dip below par. However, a bogey five at the sixth set her back to even terms with the tricky course.
Neha Tripathi (T7) persisted with consecutive birdies at the ninth and tenth holes to rise up the order. Even though she suffered her third bogey of the round at the 12th hole, a birdie at the par-5 16th hole helped her recover the lost shot.
Leticia Ras-Anderica was a picture of steady handed confidence. The German shot birdies at the first and ninth holes as she navigated the stretch in 34 strokes. She added birdies at 10, 13 and 18 to complete her round without a spot on her card, a five under 67.
Carolne Hedwall produced a streak of six birdies in seven holes to impose herself on the leaderboard. But three bogeys including a pair on the final two holes dragged her back into a tie with Leticia Ras-Anderica.
Gwladys Nocera, Yan Liu and Oona Vartiainen shot 68 to lie just one stroke off the pace. Gwladys and Oona conceded a bogey each and made five birdies, while Yan Liu kept her sheet clean in a fine 68.
Smriti Mehra (T26) negated the ill effects of the bogeys she suffered at the second and ninth holes with birdies at the 15th and 18th holes. The veteran star from India made a balanced 72.
Vani Kapoor ended the first day outside the top 50. The Delhi golfer started her day with a bogey at the par-5 first hole, but recouped the loss with a birdie at the eighth hole.
Vani Kapoor remained even through the 14th hole, seeming set for an even round of golf. But she took bogeys at the 15th and 18th holes to end the day at two over.
Saaniya Sharma was tested severely as she copped four bogeys on the front nine, a journey that took 40 strokes. She showed resilience in balancing two more bogeys on the return stretch with three birdies as Saaniya Sharma completed the round in 75 shots.
Amandeep Drall (80) had a day that was eminently forgettable. She made seven bogeys on the front nine. Her second stretch was a far more disciplined effort, but it was still one over – laced with two bogeys and her lone birdie at the 17th hole.
