Diksha Dagar, Vani Kapoor and Avani Prashanth advanced to the weekend at the Women’s Australian Open, while Hitaashee Bakshi and Pranavi Urs missed the cut at Kooyonga Golf Club in Adelaide.
Diksha followed her opening 72 with a 2-over 74 to move to 2-over for the tournament, where she is tied 31st. Kapoor, playing on an invitation this week, also added a 74 to her first-round 72 to sit alongside Diksha at the same score.
Avani Prashanth recovered well after a difficult opening round. After a 77 on day one, she returned an even-par 72 to make the cut on the line at 5-over and sit tied 60th, with 67 players advancing to the weekend.
Bakshi (77-74) and Urs (78-75) fell short of the cut.
At the top of the leaderboard, France’s Celine Herbin holds a one-shot lead at 6-under after a second-round 69 on the demanding Kooyonga layout.
Major champion Hannah Green sits just one shot back in a tie for second alongside Australia’s Kirsten Rudgeley and France’s Agathe Laisne.
Herbin surged into contention with four birdies in a five-hole stretch after the turn. Despite a double bogey on the eighth, she closed with a clutch birdie on the par-5 ninth to maintain her narrow advantage heading into the weekend.
Green, a seven-time LPGA winner, also posted a 69 after rallying with five birdies over her final 10 holes.
With three Indians through to the weekend, Diksha, Kapoor and Avani will look to move up the leaderboard as the championship heads into its final two rounds in Adelaide.
Photo – LET
