Vani lies eighth in South Africa, Pranavi scores 71 in third round

Khel Today Bureau 

Capetown: Vani Kapoor who is aiming for a maiden Ladies European Tour win, shot 69 in the third round to get into the Top-10 of the South African Women’s Open. With a total of 7-under 209 she is lying ied eighth, while fellow Indian Pranavi Urs continued her steady play. Pranavi added 71 for the second straight round and has scores of 70-71-71 to be tied 27^th.

Amandeep Drall, Diksha Dagar and Ridhima Dilawari missed the cut. The cut fell at even par with 61 players making it through to the final rounds.

Ashleigh Buhai added 3-under 69 to her 64-65 and took a four-shot lead. Germany’s Chiara Noja and Spain’s Ana Pelaez Trivino are in second place on 14-under-par after three rounds.

Vani had five birdies against two bogeys, both on the back nine, and she seemed confident after a fine second round 4-under 68.

Pranavi, the winner of the 2022 Hero WPGT Order of Merit birdied fourth, but bogeyed sixth, seventh and 11^th . She rallied with birdies on 12^th, 13^th and 15^th to get to 71.

Buhai bogeyed her first hole but came back with a birdie on the second before adding three more on the fourth, fifth and 18th holes to reach a total of 18-under-par.

Buhai has won this title three times previously – the last time being in 2018.

Pelaez Trivino, who is fourth in the 2023 Race to Costa del Sol, fired the joint-best round of the day with a 66 (-6) to move up the leaderboard.

While Germany’s Noja produced a round of 69 (-3) on day three with six birdies and three bogeys on her scorecard.

Argentina’s Magdalena Simmermacher sits in outright fourth place on 13-under-par after carding a round of 67 (-5) on day three.