Tvesa Malik Takes early lead with bogey-free 70 in Pune

Tvesa Malik fired the only bogey-free round of the day to take a one-shot lead after the opening round of the third leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour at Oxford Golf Resort in Pune.

Malik carded a steady 2-under 70, picking up one birdie on each nine as she continued her push to regain the form that once made her one of India’s leading players.

The Rs. 17 lakh event features a field of 44 players.

Anvitha Narender sits second after a 1-under 71. She recovered well after a mixed opening stretch, playing the final 10 holes in pars to stay within striking distance.

Two amateurs, Priya Kumari and Lavanya Gupta, are tied third at even-par 72. Lavanya was briefly in contention for the lead before bogeying both the 17th and 18th holes.

Malik’s round was built around birdies on the par-5 fourth and the par-3 14th. She also created several other chances but was unable to convert, still doing enough to edge ahead of the field.

Anvitha opened with back-to-back birdies before dropping shots on the sixth and seventh. A birdie on the par-3 eighth restored momentum, after which she closed with a blemish-free run.

Riya Jadon, Shagun Narain and Ananya Garg are tied fifth at 1-over 73.

Amandeep Drall, Durga Nittur, Karishma Govind, amateur Aradhana Manikandan and Khushi Khanijau share eighth place at 74.

Ridhima Dilawari is tied 13th after an opening 75, alongside Prakruthi, Rhea Purvi, Shweta Mansingh and Nayanika Sanga.

With one round complete, Malik holds the early advantage as the chase group looks to apply pressure in the second round.

Photo – LET