Teenager Ridhima takes six-shot lead on Day One

[1]

Ridhima Dilawari

Delhi’s Ridhima Dilawari pushed aside better-known players and senior challengers as she compiled an impressive one-under par 70 to open up a huge six-shot lead in the first round of the Usha Maharashtra Ladies Golf at the Poona Golf Club on Tuesday.

The 14-year-old Ridhima, who has some good results including a top-5 at the Usha Southern India Ladies Golf, was six clear of Seher Atwal (76), while Gurbani Singh, leader on the Order of Merit for Combined Category A-B, was tied third at 77.
Ridhima, who turned 14 this July, is currently second behind Aditi in the Category B Order of Merit list.
Aditi is not playing this week and on Tuesday Ridhima took a big step to making her presence felt at the event. She overcame a double bogey on the second hole, to sink four birdies against one bogey for her 70.
Seher was four-over for the front nine, but had two birdies and three bogeys on back nine for a 37.
Gurbani struggled with her putting, posting six bogeys and a double against just two birdies in her card of 77, while Millie Saroha was also four over for the front nine. But she recovered with two birdies on the 10th and the 12th, at which point she seemed to be doing well. Then she lapsed into errors with five straight bogeys from the 14th to the 18th and ended at 77. Millie and Gurbani led Category A with 77 each, while in Category B, Ridhima (70) was way ahead of Seher Atwal (76).