Mumbai Mumbai: Jasmine Shekhar played her best round in her short pro career to dominate the Golden Greens Golf Club course. She took a three-shot lead after the first round of leg 13 of the Hero Women's Pro Golf Tour.The 19-year-old Jasmine, who turned pro last year, carded seven birdies against a bogey for a round of 6-under 66 to finish three shots ahead of veteran Ridhima Dilawari (69), a multiple winner on the Tour.
Three established players – Hitashi Bakshi, currently leader of the Hero Order of Merit, Vidhatri Urs, winner of three of the last four events, and Gaurika Bishnoi, already a winner this year – carded 1-under 71 to be tied for third.
Jasmine, whose best finish has been a tie for second in the third stage in Kolkata at Royal Calcutta Golf Club last year and then at Tollygunge this year, was playing in the third group from the first tee with Aastha Madan and amateur Nandita Kumar. Jasmine made three consecutive birdies from third to fifth and a fourth birdie on the ninth to reach 4-under. On the back nine, she birdied the 12th, 14th and 16th and dropped a shot on the par-4 15th. Ridhima made four birdies against a bogey. Her birdies came on the first, fifth, 11th and 12th and the dropped shot was on the par-4 10th. Gaurika made four birdies against three bogeys while Hitashi, who has been in good form this season, also made four birdies against three bogeys. Vidhatri, who made seven starts as a professional on the Hero WPG Tour, with three wins and four third-place finishes, made three birdies and two bogeys.
Five players are tied for sixth on a tight leaderboard. The five players include veteran Amandeep Drall, the 2022 runner-up at the Hero Women's Indian Open, Sneha Singh, the 2023 Order of Merit winner, Gauri Karhade, amateurs Anvi Dahiya and Khushi Khanijau. All of them shot 1-over 73. Among other famous names, Sehar Atwal shot 75 and finished T-13, Shweta Mansingh (77) finished T-20 and Neha Tripathi (78) finished T-28. A total of 41 players are playing in the Rs 14 lakh event, which is the last event before the major Hero Women's Indian Open next month.
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