Neha shares first round lead with Smriti

Behind Neha and Smriti were Vani Kapoor and Shraddhanjali Singh with cards of 76 each. Nalini Singh Siwach and Saaniya Sharma shot 77 each to be tied at fifth position.

Smriti, who has won three of the six legs held so far in the season, was four over after 15 holes. She made a late surge with two birdies on the 16th and 17th, but spoilt her finish with a bogey on the closing 18th.

Neha, who is still looking for her first win this season, had just one birdie on the fourth as against four bogeys, two of which came on par-fives.

Meanwhile, Saaniya and Vani paid heavily for their poor finish.

Saaniya looked set for the lead, but had a nightmarish finish. She double bogeyed the 16th and then triple bogeyed the 18th to drop from even par to five over in a matter of three holes.

Saaniya was the only player with three birdies and they came in a space of four holes as she birdied the fifth, sixth and eighth holes and turned in even par, but her 41 for the second nine saw her drop down.

Another one to spoil her finish was Vani, who was just one-over till she came to the 16th tee, bogeyed her last three holes to fall to four-over.

Shraddhanjali had two birdies, four bogeys and one double bogey in her 76.