Vani Kapoor shot a composed one-under 71 to take a three-stroke lead on the opening day of the third leg of the Hero WGAI women’s pro tour.
The 18-year-old fired birdies on holes five and 11, before stuttering on the par-five 13th for her only bogey of the round.
In joint second are Nalini Singh Siwach and the amateur Aditi Ashok, who carded a two-over 74.
Aditi endured a difficult start, bogeying thrice on the first six holes, but pulled things back with a birdie on the eighth. She managed even-par on the back nine to finish two over for the dayat the Prestige Golfshire Club. One stroke further behind in fourth was Shraddhanjali Singh (75) with Smriti Mehra and Saaniya Sharma (76) in joint fifth.
Sharmila Nicollet, who won the first leg and finished runner-up in the second, is away for the Austrian Open on the Ladies European Tour.
The scores (top six after 18 holes): Vani Kapoor 71; Aditi Ashok (A), Nalini Singh Siwach 74; Shraddhanjali Singh 75; Smriti Mehra, Saaniya Sharma 76.
