Singapore’s Shannon Tan and England’s Alice Hewson shared the top spot at the 16th Hero Women’s Indian Open after two rounds, each carding an aggregate of 2-under 142 at the DLF Golf and Country Club.
On a challenging day for scoring, Tan and Hewson were the only players to post sub-par totals after 36 holes in the US $400,000 tournament.
India’s Pranavi Urs emerged as the best-placed Indian in the field, tied for seventh on 1-over 145 after following her opening 74 with a solid 71. Meanwhile, domestic star Hitaashee Bakshi recorded the best round of the day with a brilliant 4-under 68, pushing her into a tie for 16th.
Pranavi Urs Leads Indian Challenge
Pranavi, who has delivered a standout rookie season on the Ladies European Tour (LET) with four top-10 finishes, continued her impressive run at her home Open. Reflecting on her performance so far, she said: “Yesterday I started slow with three bogeys, but DLF is a course where you can go five under or five over.
“You have to stay patient, which I did, finishing two-over. Today was better. I was more consistent, and I’m happy with the one-under. My putting has been strong, and I think my pace on the greens has really helped.”
Looking ahead to the third round, the 21-year-old from Mysore shared her game plan: “Tomorrow, I’ll avoid being too aggressive and focus on hitting as many regulations as possible. Sticking to the plan is key, and hopefully, things go well.”
Hitaashee Bakshi Bounces Back
Hitaashee Bakshi, currently atop the Domestic Tour’s Order of Merit, rebounded from a tough 8-over 80 in the first round. Her second-round 68 lifted her to T-16 and made her one of only nine players to break par on Friday.
The 20-year-old credited a conversation with her coach for the turnaround: “After round one, we talked through a few things and decided to keep it simple – one shot at a time. I started with a bogey again today, but my goal was not to give up until the last putt on 18. That mindset helped me play better.”
Pre-Tournament Favourite Tamburlini Struggles
Pre-event favourite and LET Order of Merit leader Chiara Tamburlini had a day to forget. Following her opening 74, the Swiss golfer posted a 9-over 81 on Friday, struggling with DLF’s challenging greens. Her round included a triple bogey, three double bogeys, and three bogeys, with only two birdies offering some relief.
Nine Indians Make the Cut
The cut was set at 10-over 154, with nine Indians advancing to the weekend. Among them was two-time LET winner Diksha Dagar, who shot 78-72 to sit tied for 24th, and amateurs Mannat Brar (T35) and Janneya Dasanniee (T49). DLF regulars Vani Kapoor and Tvesa Malik also made the cut, with Tvesa surviving right on the bubble at 10-over 154.
Leaders Tan and Hewson Stay Disciplined
Shannon Tan, who began her LET career with a win at the Magical Kenya Open, attributed her solid performance to disciplined play on the difficult course.
“DLF is probably one of the toughest courses we’ve seen this year. I stuck to my game plan, hitting three-woods or five-woods off the tee when needed. On the par-5 18th, I laid up even though I could have gone for the green in two. This course demands discipline.”
Alice Hewson, following her 70 with an opening 72, expressed satisfaction with her approach: “The firm greens make it tricky to get close to the pins, but my caddie and I are plotting our way through the course. It’s paying off so far. I love it here in India, and the fiddly layout suits my game well since I prefer accuracy over power.”
Strategy for Day 3
With two rounds to go, the Hero Women’s Indian Open promises an exciting finish. Pranavi Urs will aim to capitalise on her home advantage and challenge for the title, while Hitaashee Bakshi will look to continue her momentum. At the top, Tan and Hewson will have to maintain their consistency to fend off a talented field on what has proven to be an unforgiving course.
The next two rounds will be crucial, as the players battle both DLF’s firm greens and tricky fairways, hoping to emerge victorious in India’s most prestigious women’s golf event.
