Hosur, Sep 11 (IANS): Veteran golfer and overnight joint leader Smriti Mehra played consistent golf Thursday to consolidate her lead at the top in the 10th leg of the Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour 2014 here at the picturesque Clover Greens Golf Course.
Smriti finished her second round in sole lead, carding a total of 139 after 36 holes. Trailing Smriti by five strokes is Delhi youngster and Hero Order of Merit leader Vani Kapoor. Both Smriti and Vani carded the days lowest total of one under 69 in the second round today.
Smriti brought her years of experience into play as she dominated the game for the second day in succession, while most of the other golfers except Vani and Shweta carded above par scores. Smriti carded a remarkable 1 under 69 to finish as the sole leader with a total score of 139 after 36 holes.
Her front nine included two birdies on the 4th and 5th holes with a lone bogey on the 3rd hole. In her back nine, she faltered with a double bogey on the 10th hole but recovered lost ground quickly with three birdies on the 12th, 14th and 18th holes and a lone bogey on the 17th hole.
Delhi youngster Vani Kapoor, also known as the queen of comebacks, showed just why she is the most promising talent in the country. She made an amazing comeback after a disappointing first round of 5 over 75, to card the day’s second score of one under 69. She is currently placed second on the leader board with a total of 144, 5 shots short of the leader. Vani teed off to a disappointing front nine, carding two double bogies on the 4th and 9th holes and a lone birdie on the 6th hole. However, she took the field by surprise making a super comeback on her back nine, carding 4 birdies on the 10th, 14th, 15th and 17th holes with just two bogies on the 11th and 18th holes.
The only other golfer to be in the safe zone today was Pune’s Shweta Galande. She played a cautious round carding the days second lowest score of even par 70. She is currently placed third on the leader board with a total of 145 at the end of the second round. Shweta’s round today consisted of three birdies on the fifth, 15th and 16th holes with as many bogies on the first, fourth and 11th holes.
Overnight leader and Kolkata golfer Neha Tripathi could not keep the momentum going on day two, carding as many as five bogeys on the second, 5th, 8th 10th and 15th holes. Two double bogeys on the 4th and 12th holes added to her woes on an already difficult day. However, two birdies on the 6th and 13th holes brought some respite and helped her finish at the joint fourth place with Delhi’s Ankita Tiwana, with identical scores of 147 after 36 holes. Ankita played a birdie-less round, which included four bogeys on the 5th, 7th, 11th and 14th holes.