Vaishavi Sinha retains one shot lead

Report by Anand Datla

February 26, 2015: As many as four women broke par on the second day of the Hero-Oxford Women’s Pro Golf Championship, but none of them did enough to dislodge Vaishavi Sinha from the lead. In the sixth event on the women’s tour this season, Sinha retained a one shot lead despite making only 75 in the second round. Gursimar Badwal and Vani Kapoor were lurking close behind, after making 70 and 71 respectively.

Sinha failed to produce the magic she possessed during her 68 yesterday. She shot four bogeys and a lone birdie in the second round to sign on a 75 going into the final round.

Vani looked good for an even better score, but bogeys on the 13th and 16th derailed her plans. Eventually the three time winner this season took a 71 to inch closer to Sinha.

Badwal produced three birdies and a bogey at the fourth to account for her 70. Three women are trailing Vani and Gursimar, a further shot behind them.

Smriti Mehra shot the best round of the day, making 69 with five birdies and two bogeys. Amandeep Drall made three birdies and a bogey for her 70 to join Mehra at 145 through 36 holes.

Kiran Matharu suffered one of the most undulating rounds on the day – three birdies and three bogeys on the front nine ensured that her narrative was full of punctuation. Her effort took on a darker shade on the back nine – where she made a double on the 11th and three other bogeys to a take a 75 in the second round.

Neha Tripathi made a 74 to close the day at 146. Shweta Galande and Sharmila Nicollet made 73 and 76 respectively to end the day seven shots adrift from the leader.

Sinha will look to seal her second title in as many outings when she resumes her card at 143 in the final round on Friday. She is the only woman still under par after 36 holes. Both Vani and Gursimar are holding up on an even par 144.