Gurgaon, March 10 (IANS): Upbeat after her successive Hero Women's Professional Golf Tour titles in the last two events, Smriti Mehra will be eyeing a hat-trick in the eighth leg that starts at the par-72 Classic Golf & Country Club here from Wednesday.

The veteran golfer is in terrific form and will start as firm favourite in the Rs.7,00,000 event that will see 18 golfers and Gurjot Badwal, the lone amateur, fighting it out for the top spot.

Smriti is currently placed second in the Hero Order of Merit with total earnings of Rs.5,47,000 from seven appearances and would be keen to reduce the gap at the top of the table.

However, she is expected to face tough competition from Delhi youngster Vani Kapoor, Indian origin English golfer Kiran Matharu, Chandigarh’s Saaniya Sharma, Kolkata’s Neha Tripathi and Noida’s Vaishavi Sinha.

This event will also see Delhi’s Mayali Talwar making her debut as a professional.

Order of Merit leader Vani has been off colour in the last two legs and would be keen to regain her form. She sits atop the money list with total earnings of Rs.7,06,067 from seven appearances and will look to consolidate her position.

Vaishavi, who missed the last leg at the Poona Club Golf Course, would be eager to win her second title of the season.

Saaniya and Kolkata’s Neha have had a decent show in the last few events and will be hoping for an elusive podium finish. Other players to watch out for are Delhi’s Ankita Tiwana and Panchkula golfer Amandeep Drall.