Sneha keeps 2-shot lead in 5th Leg of Hero WPGT with Gaurika, Jasmine in close chase

Khel Today Bureau 

Gurugram: Sneha Singh finished her round with a bogey for the second straight day, but still kept her nose ahead by two shots in the fifth leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour at the Golden Greens Golf Club in Gurugram.

Sneha, who turned in even par and had two early birdies on the back nine, was bogey free for the stretch till she dropped a shot on the Par-5 18^th and finished with 1-under 71. This alongside her first round 68 put her at 5-under 139 for 36 holes.

Gaurika Bishnoi, who had four birdies, also suffered back-to-back bogeys on sixth and seventh and carded 71, one of the four players to get that score on the second day. Gaurika had 70 on the first day and is now 3-under 141.

Lying third also with a 71 was Jasmine Shekar, who has been coming close to the leaders often enough. She had two birdies and one bogey. In the first round she shot 72 and is now 1-under 143.

Sneha opened the day with a birdie but dropped two bogeys in succession on third and fourth and then birdied seventh and ninth with a bogey in between on eighth. On the back nine she birdied 10^th and 11^th, but dropped a shot on 18th.

Sneha already has a win this season in the third leg and is looking to be the first multiple winner in 2023. Jasmine Shekar was second to Sneha in the third leg and is looking for her maiden win, while Gaurika won the 13^th leg in 2022.

Khushi Khanijau (73-73) was fourth while Tvesa Malik, trying to play herself back into form after a long break, had four birdies against three bogeys and a double bogey in her 73 and was tied fifth with Rhea Jha.

The fourth player to  card 71 was Ananya Datar, who after 83 on the first day improved by 12 shots to shoot 1-under 71 and was lying 12^th.

With just three players under par, a tense tussle is on the cards between the top three Sneha, Gaurika and Jasmine.

The cut fell at 12 with 16 professionals and 2 amateurs making it through to the final round.

Tee times for the third and final round of the fifth leg of the Hero WPG Tour at the Golden Greens, Gurugram:

1. 11:30 am : Oviya Reddi 156; Keerthana Rajeev (A) 156; Saaniya Sharma 156;
2. 11:40 am : Shweta Mansingh 156; Jyotsana Singh 155; Anisha Agarwalla 155;
3. 11:50 am : Ananya Datar 154; Heena Kang (A) 153; Riya Yadav 151;
4. 12:05 pm : Agrima Manral 150; Shagun Narain 150; Neha Tripathi 148;
5. 12:15 pm : Rhea Jha 147; Tvesa Malik 147; Khushi Khanijau 146;
6. 12:25 pm : Jasmine Shekar 143; Gaurika Bishnoi 141; Sneha Singh 139;