Shruti extends lead on day two

Mumbai, Dec 13 (UNI) Overnight leader Shruti Khanna of Delhi improved on her first day's performance by two strokes, finishing the second day seven-over 77 to open up a five stroke lead on the top of the leaderboard in the 57th Ladies Western India Open Amateur Golf Championships at the Bombay Presidency Golf Club Course, here today.

However, another junior golfer from Delhi, 16-year-old Shweta Galande also came up with a good show, finishing eight over 78 to occupy second place overall, while overnight second placed golfer Sonia Malhotra of Mumbai had a poor outing, playing a 19 over 89 and slipped to ninth place in the points tally.

Shruti started the day very well, finishing the first nine holes one over 36, with birdies on the 2nd and 4th hole and bogies on the 3rd, 7th and 8th hole. On the back nine she played par up to the 13th hole but a single bogie on the 14th pegged her back a bit.

Afetr a par on the 15 th hole, her game faltered and a bogey on the 16th hole was followed by double bogies on the 17th&18th holes to mar her final tally.

Delhi's Navy Children's School girl Shweta Galande played excellent golf today. Only two years on the golf circuit she played three over 38 on the first nine holes, with a birdie on the 1 st and double bogey on the 7th hole. In the back nine she made five over 40, with a birdie on the 11th hole but a triple bogie on the 13th hole and bogies on the 10th, 15th&18th holes spoilt her show.

Following are the results (after 36 holes): Shruti Khanna (0) (Delhi) 156(79, 77); Shweta Galande (-5) (Delhi) 161(83,78); Rani Maheswari (-12) (Mumbai) 162(85,77); Shruti Naik (-8) (Delhi) 164(83,81); Rajeswari Agarwal (-8) (Pune) 165(84,81); Shreya Ghei (9) (Delhi)169(87,82); Sania Sharma (-4) (Chandigarth) 169(85,84);Mani Chander (-8) (Chandigarth) 169(82,87); Sonia Malhotra (-10) (Mumbai) 169 (80,89).

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