Diksha Dagar led the Indian charge with a fluent 5-under 68 to sit tied 11th after the opening round of the Investec South African Women’s Open in Cape Town.
The 2019 champion produced a standout back-nine surge at Royal Cape Golf Club, firing five birdies to climb into contention. After a mixed front nine that included two birdies and two bogeys following an opening dropped shot, Diksha found her rhythm from the 11th, adding birdies on 11, 12, 15 and 16 to underline her control.
Pranavi Urs provided solid support with a 2-under 70 to lie tied 20th. Her round featured a steady mix of birdies and recovery, though a bogey on the 15th halted further progress.
Further down, Hitaashee Bakshi (72) and Avani Prashanth (73) were tied 64th, while Tvesa Malik (74) and Vani Kapoor (75) faced an uphill task, sitting outside the projected cut.
At the top, Germany’s Patricia Schmidt set the pace with a stunning 10-under 63, opening a two-shot lead after a round highlighted by an eagle and a blistering back nine.
What it means: Diksha’s strong finish puts her right in the mix early, continuing her consistency on the LET.
What’s next: With three rounds to play, sustaining momentum on a low-scoring course will be key to turning this start into a title run.
Photo – LET
