Diksha Dagar, Vani Kapoor and Avani Prashanth made the halfway cut at the Women’s Australian Open, while two other Indians, Hitaashee Bakshi and Pranavi Urs, missed the cut.
According to a release, Diksha, who was the top Indian last week, also shot 2-over 74 and was now 2-over for two rounds. Vani Kapoor, who received an invite this week, added 2-over 74 to her first round 72. She was also 2-over for 36 holes, and the duo was Tied-31st.
Avani, who missed the cut in her last two starts, shot 77 on the first day and added 72 to make the cut on the line at 5-over. She was tied-60th, as 67 players made the cut.
Hitaashee Bakshi (77-74) and Pranavi Urs (78-75) missed the cut.
Celine Herbin will take a one-shot lead into the weekend after carding a second round 69 (-3) at a testing Kooyonga Golf Club to move to six-under par.
Major winner Hannah Green sits just one back in a tie for second alongside compatriot Kirsten Rudgeley and France’s Agathe Laisne – a recent winner at the Ford Women’s NSW Open.
The two-time Ladies European Tour (LET) winner Herbin came alive on her back-nine, the course’s front-nine, following 10 consecutive pars.
After the turn, Herbin posted birdies at the 2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th to soar into a two-shot lead before she handed two shots back to the field with a double bogey on the 8th.
But with the Adelaide heat cooling down, the 43-year-old made a clutch birdie at the par-5 9th thanks to a wonderful third shot. She leads a bunched field by a single shot heading into the weekend in Australia.
One of the chasers, seven-time LPGA winner Green, carded five birdies in her final 10 holes to recover from a double-bogey at the 7th and post a 69 (-3).
There has not been an Aussie winner of the Women’s Australian Open since Karrie Webb lifted the famous trophy in 2014.