Nalini shines on Day One

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Nalini Singh Siwach

Delhi’s Nalini Singh Siwach took a one shot lead despite dropping three strokes in the last five holes in the first round of the fourth leg of the Hero-WGAI Pro Tour, at the Royal Springs Golf Course in Srinagar on Tuesday.

Nalini, looking for this season’s first win on the domestic Tour, was two-under through 10 holes before she finished the day at one-over 73. She was one ahead of veteran Smriti Mehra (74).
Ankita Tiwana and Shraddhanjali Singh shot 75 each to be tied for third place, while Neha Tripathi carded 76 and Vani Kapoor had a tough time finding birdies before ending with a 77.
Rookie Vani — leading the Order of Merit and last week’s winner — struggled and was placed sixth, while Sharmila Nicollet gave the event a miss.
With the first three legs of the Hero-WGAI having produced three different winners, Nalini staked her claim with a fine round. She had finished third in the first two events and was fourth in the third leg.
On the day, the 22-year-old had a superb front nine producing three birdies against a bogey, but after that she managed only one more birdie, against four bogeys.
Smriti, who won the second leg, had five bogeys against three birdies — including one on the last, the 18th. Smriti was disappointed at having bogeyed each of the four par-fives.
Vani opened her round in style with a birdie on the par-5 first hole, but thereafter struggled to sink her putts. She also dropped a bogey on the fourth and a double on the ninth.