Smriti leads the field by 3 shots

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Sharmila Nicollet

Continuing from where she left off at the second leg in Kolkata, seasoned golfer Smriti Mehra played a solid round of two-under 68 to take the Day One honours in the third leg of the Hero Women’s Pro golf tour 2013 at the Bombay Presidency Golf Club in Mumbai on Tuesday.

After the first day’s play Smriti was leading the field by three shots, ahead of Sharmila Nicollet.
Smriti, who won her season’s first title at the Tollygunge Golf Club earlier this month, had a shaky start with bogeys on the first and third holes, but birdies on the second, fourth, 17th and 18th ensured her lead.
Meanwhile, Bengaluru’s Sharmila had a steady front nine but faltered on the back nine, with bogeys on the 11th, 14th and 16th holes.
Birdies on the 15th and 18th holes helped her finish the day second with a score of one-over 71.
Rani Sonti, with three birdies on the 5th, 16th and 18th, was third with 73.
Neha Tripathi, winner of the first leg of the Hero WPGT 2013, started with consecutive birdies on the first and second holes but failed to capitalise on her good start and was fourth on five-over 75.
Preetinder Kaur (76) was fifth, while Mita Gowande (77) was sixth.
Leaderboard: Smriti Mehra - 68, Sharmila Nicollet – 71, Rani Sonti – 73, Neha Tripathi – 75, Preetinder Kaur – 76, Mita Gowande – 77