Shreya survives Gaurika's charge to keep lead in 12th leg of Hero WPG Tour

Amateur Shreya Pal dropped a bogey on the final hole but still managed a slender one-shot lead as Gaurika Bishnoi made a big charge in the second round of the 12th leg of the Hero Women's Pro Golf Tour, here on Thursday.

Shreya, who turns 16 next week, dropped a crucial bogey on the 525-yard par-5 closing 18th hole to see her lead drop from two to just one shot.

Shreya, who finished with a card of even par 72 with three birdies and three bogeys is now five-under 139. She shot five-under 67 on the first day.

Bishnoi, one of the multiple winners this season, started the day five behind Shreya. Leading the Hero Order of Merit, Bishnoi was off to a fine start on the second day. She birdied the Par-3 third, Par-4 fourth and Par-5 seventh.

She added a fourth birdie on the Par-4 ninth to turn in four-under and at that stage she trailed the leader by two, as Shreya had birdied the fifth.

As Bishnoi added a fifth birdie to go five-under, the lead was down to one. Bishnoi, playing one group ahead, dropped a shot on 11th, but so did Shreya. On the 12th, Shreya had another bogey, which meant the two were now level and tied for the lead.

However, the young Shreya showed great nerves to hole birdies on 13th and 15th and go two ahead again before she dropped a shot on 18th.

Meanwhile Bishnoi, who had a couple of birdie chances, parred seven holes in a row from 12th to 18th for a 68.

She now trails Shreya by one and they will go out together in the final group alongside Gauri Karhade, who is the only player in the field to shoot both rounds in under par.

Gauri, looking for her first title on the pro Tour, shot 71 on the first day and followed that up with a 70 that started with birdies on the first two holes. She had another birdie on 12th while her lone bogey came on 11th. She trails Shreya by two and Bishnoi by one to set up an interesting three-ball for the final round.

Ananya Datar (70-74) was fourth, while Afshan Fatima (74-71) was fifth and Amandeep Drall (74-72) was sixth. Siddhi Kapoor (74-73) was seventh as Gursimar