Vani consolidates lead on day two of Hero golf

Overnight leader Vani Kapoor Thursday carded one-over 73 to consolidate her lead in the second round of the opening leg of the Hero Women's Professional Golf Tour here.

The 26-year-old showed patience and grit beyond her years as she raced to the top, four shots clear of second placed Smriti Mehra (75) and Neha Tripathi (76) at the Kensville Golf Club and Country Club.

Kolkata golfers Smriti and Neha are tied second with an identical score of 153.

Vani started cautiously and carded a bogey on the second hole with birdie on the eighth hole to play an even par front nine.

She carded two more birdies on the 14th and 17th, with three bogeys on the 10th, 12th and 15th holes to end her day with a total score of five-over 149 after 36 holes.

Smriti played controlled golf but bogeys on the second, fifth and 16th marred her score line.

Neha had an indifferent start and carded three bogeys on the first, second and fourth.

A double bogey on the par-3 fifth hole added to her woes, but she made a comeback with three birdies on the 8th, 9th and 12th holes. She faltered again with bogeys on 11th and 17th holes.

Shweta Galande and Pallavi Jain are tied fourth with a total score of 155. Pune's Shweta Galande carded four-over 76.

Jaipur golfer and overnight leader Pallavi could not keep the momentum going and played a birdie-less round of seven-over 79 which included five bogeys.

Chandigarh's Amandeep Drall played a round of two-over 74 to be placed joint sixth along with Kapurthala golfer Gursimar Badwal with identical scores of 156.

Ankita Tiwana, Saaniya Sharma and Preetinder Kaur are placed eighth, ninth and tenth, respectively.