Shruti leads in Western India Open Amatuer ladies golf tourney

Mumbai, Dec 12 (UNI) The leading amateur ladies golfers from around the country did not make too impressive a start to their campaigns in the 57th Ladies Western India Open Amateur Golf Championships, with experienced campaigner Shruti Khanna of Delhi establishing a slender lead at the top of the leaderboard after the first day's play here today.

With most of the established names on the circuit having turned pro, it was a relatively young though talented field on display and it was Shruti and another seasoned campaigner from Mumbai, Sonia Malhotra who emerged on top. While Shruti, a zero handicapper, finished the par-70 18-hole course, nine-over 79, Sonia finished a stroke behind on 80.

Shruti had a poor start as she went out in 42, with four bogeys and one triple bogey on the fourth hole. However, she restored some sanity into her game on the back nine, coming home in 37, once again having only one birdie to show against three bogies.

Sonia, who has been active on the amateur circuit for a long time now, handling a professional airlines career and golf with aplomb, began in good form, after a double bogey on the first. The -10 handicapper finished the first nine with four over 39, with a birdie on the 4th and three bogies. However, she faltered on the back nine, six bogies seeing her come home in 41.

Among the young golfers still to find their rhythm, Chandigarh's Mani Chander finished the day twelve over 82.

Following are the results (after 18 holes): Shruti Khanna (0) (Delhi) 79; Sonia Malhotra (-10) (Mumbai) 80; Mani Chander (-8) (Chandigarth) 82; Shruti Naik (-8) (Delhi) 83; Shweta Galande (-5) (Delhi) 83; Rajeswari Agarwal (-8) (Pune) 84; Rani Maheswari (-12) (Mumbai) 85; Sania Sharma (-4) (Chandigarth) 85; Nalini Singh (-5) (Delhi) 86; Mehar Atwal (8) (Delhi) 93.

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