Saaniya Sharma grabs lead in Coimbatore

August 06, 2015: Chandigarh’s Saaniya Sharma played the only under-par round of 1 under 71 to soar into the pole position after second round of the 13th leg of the Hero Women Professional Golf Tour 2015 at Coimbatore Golf Club here on Thursday. Delhi’s Vani Kapoor retained her second place with an effort of 2 over 74 and trails Saaniya by just one stroke, while overnight leader Amandeep Drall ended tied third with Neha Tripathi with identical scores of 153. The INR 5,00,000 event will culminate on 7th August.

Saaniya Sharma used all her experience in difficult conditions to take control in the second round. The Chandigarh pro carded her first birdie on the 2nd hole while dropping her only shot on the 7th hole in her front nine. She played a bogey-free back nine and a birdie on the 18th hole was enough to secure her a one stroke lead over Vani. She finished the day with a total score of 148.

Hero Order of Merit leader Vani Kapoor had an indifferent start and carded two consecutive bogies on the 2nd and 3rd holes and added another on the 7th hole. Her lone birdie in her front nine came on the 5th hole. However, she played with much more control in her back nine and carded just one bogey on the 16th hole followed by a birdie on the 17th to set the final day for a nail biting finish. She finished with a total score of 149 after 36 holes.

Panchkula’s Amandeep Drall could not sustain her first round momentum and carded 7 over 79 on the second day. Her error prone round included nine bogies on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 7th, 9th, 10th, 11th,14th and 17th holes. However, two late birdies on the 16th and 18th holes helped her control the damage and to stay in contention for her second title. Kolkata’s Neha Tripathi carded four birdies on the 5th, 6th, 9th and 15th holes, maximum by any golfer on the day. However, three bogies on the 4th, 7th and 17th holes along with a double on the 10th hole, meant that she had to be content with a score of 1 over 73 in the second round.

Pune’s Shweta Galande is in fifth position with a total score of 154. She carded five bogies on the 3rd, 4th, 7th, 15th and 18th holes along with a double on the 8th hole. She also carded two birdies on the 1st and 14th holes to return with a score of 5 over 77 in the second round. She is followed by Delhi’s Ankita Tiwana in sixth place with a total score of 160. Jaipur’s Afshan Fatima is placed seventh with a total score of 162, followed by Delhi’s Mehar Atwal and Ayesha Kapur in tied eight position with identical scores of 166 after the second day’s play.