Nalini takes opening day honours at Hero-WGAI Women's golf

Nalini, winner last week, was one shot cleat of Neha Tripathi and Smriti Mehra, who shot 77 each.

Interestingly both Nalini and Neha had just one birdie each at the Golden Greens course, which proved a handful for the golfers.

But Smriti, aggressive as usual, turned in three birdies, but she also had six bogeys and one double. She had bogeys in her first three holes. Smriti's three birdies came on eighth, ninth and 18th.

Saaniya Sharma was the only other golfer to come inside 80 as she carded 79, while Preetinder Kaur shot 81. Nikki Ponappa and Ankita Tiwana carded 82 each.

Vani Kapoor, who won a pro event at the same course while being an amateur had a struggle with a round of 83 that had seven bogeys and two doubles and no birdies.

Nalini had the best start with three pars and birdied the fourth. But she bogeyed the next four. And then she had just one more bogey and rest pars.

Pallavi Jain and Shraddhanjali Singh withdrew because of medical reasons, while Nalini Singh (88), Rashika Chauhan (A) (88) and Rani Sonti (91) missed the cut.

This is the sixth leg of the Hero-WGAI Women's Pro Tour and five different players have won titles with Smriti Mehra being the only multiple winner.