Hyderabad: Hitaashee Bakshi, already a two-time winner this season, landed a late eagle on the 14th hole and carded 4-under 68 to grab a one-shot lead over Sneha Singh, the first-round leader, in the 11th Leg of the Hero Womens Pro Golf Tour at the Boulder Hills Golf & Country Club.
Local Hyderabad star Sneha Singh, looking for her first win as a pro, was hit by a double bogey on the par-5 seventh, as she carded 2-under 70 and dropped to second place.
Hitaashee (69-68) is now seven-under 137 and Sneha (68-70) trails her by one shot at the scenic Boulder Hills Golf and Country Club.
Hitaashee birdied first, sixth and 11th and then eagled the 14th to go five-under for the day. A dropped shot on 16th pulled her back by one but she is still one clear of the field.
Sneha had a birdie on third and then had a bogey on fourth to become even par. A double bogey on seventh was followed by a birdie on ninth and she turned in one-over 37. Birdies on 11th, 14th and 17th helped her recover lost ground and card 70 to be placed second.
Pranavi Urs (70-71) with four birdies and three bogeys in a round of 71 lurks behind at 3-under 141 but the four-time winner this season is capable of a low score on the final day to turn the tables on the leading duo.
Pranavi, seeking a fifth title of the season, is tied third alongside Nayanika Sanga (69-72). Nayanika, who was cruising with a fine 3-under for the front nine, stumbled with three bogeys in a matter of five holes on the back nine. She did recover slightly with a birdie on the 17th.
The next three spots are occupied by amateurs Keerthana R Nair (70-72), Heena Kang (71-72) and Vidhatri Urs (72-72), who are fifth, sixth and seventh respectively.
Khushi Khanijau (77-68) made a huge nine-shot improvement from the first to the second round, and is tied eighth with Seher Atwal (70-75). Shweta Mansingh (69-78) is tenth.
The cut fell at 9-over 153 and 19 players will play the third and final round.
–IANS
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