Simi Mehra leads DLF Women's Professional Golf tour

Noida, Oct 18 (UNI) Simi Mehra carded 73 to lead the field at the end of the first round of the second leg of DLF Women's Professional Golf tour here today.

The opening day of this three-day tour brought in some good scores and a nail-biting finish between Simi Mehta and Shalini Malik.

Simi, who pushed her opening drive into the water, recovered to finish the first hole one over. Shalini Malik, playing in the same group as Simi Mehra, came up with a robust round of golf to finish at two-over 74. Simi, though driving consistently well, somewhat lost out on her short game today. Shalini was constantly breathing down her neck and but for a three putt on the 18th hole would have finished tied with Simi and thus splitting the prize money of Rs 10000 with Simi Mehra for the best round of the day.

In the other group consisting of Nonita, Parnita and Sanam Merchant, Nonita was a bit unlucky to have finished with a score of 85. Looking back, it was some loose shots which messed up her overall score. Parnita showed some sparkles of her potential but could not focus strongly enough to measure up to the challenge of the course.

Preet Inder, though could not produce a convincing score, demonstrated her rich talent and exceptional mental strength as a promising and class professional golfer of the future. The disappointment of the day came from Mumbai's Sanam Merchant, who just couldn't find her rhythm today. She runs the risk of exiting from this leg of the tournament unless she produces some outstanding golf in the second round tomorrow.

Scores: Simi Mehra Guffin 73; Shalini Malik 74; Parnita Garewal 83; Nonita L Qureshi 85; Preet Inder Kaur 86; Sanam Merchant 93.

UNI HSB AY RN1952