Srinagar, June 23 (IANS): Amateur Gurbani Singh fired four-under 68 to grab the opening round lead in the ninth leg of the Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour at the Royal Springs Golf Course here on Tuesday.

Gurbani is followed by Panchkula golfer Amandeep Drall, who carded three-under 69 to steer two shots clear of Delhi's Gauri Monga in the third place on 71.

Gurbani had a shaky start and carded a bogey on the first hole. However, she regained her composure to shoot four birdies on the third, sixth, seventh and ninth holes in her front nine, and added two more on the 11th and 13th. She dropped only her second shot on the 10th hole.

Amandeep carded five birdies on the third, seventh, 11th, 16th and 18th. Two bogeys on the fourth and 15th holes meant she had to settle for the second position with a 69.

Gauri played a cautious round of 71, carding just two bogeys on the first and 10th along with three birdies on the eighth, ninth and 16th to be placed third. She is followed by Pune’s Shweta Galande, who scored two-over 74 after 18 holes.

Shweta played a birdie-less front nine with three bogeys on the fourth, fifth and ninth holes. She dropped another shot on the 11th, but birdies on the 13th and 16th helped her to repair the damage.

Delhi youngster Vani Kapoor, Kolkata’s Neha Tripathi and Kapurthala golfer Gursimar Badwal are tied fifth with identical scores of 75.

Hero Order of Merit leader Vani had an off day in the park. She played an even-par front nine, but three bogeys on the 11th, 12th and 16th spoilt her scoreline.

Amateur Millie Saroha, Chandigarh’s Saaniya Sharma and Delhi's Ankita Tiwana, who is also the defending champion, are placed tied eighth with identical scores of 76.