Pranavi Urs combined an eagle with four birdies in a second-round 70 to reach 5-under, becoming the only Indian to qualify for the weekend at The K Club.

Pranavi Urs fought back from an uneven start to remain inside the top 10 at the halfway stage of the KPMG Women’s Irish Open.

The 25-year-old added a 2-under 70 to her opening 69, reaching 5-under 139 and moving into a share of eighth place on the Palmer South Course at The K Club.

Urs dropped an early shot at the second but responded with a birdie at the fifth. She then followed a bogey at the sixth with another birdie at the eighth to play her opening nine in level par.

The Hero-backed golfer generated momentum with the highlight of her round, an eagle at the par-five 10th. A birdie at the 13th moved her further up the leaderboard before a bogey at the 15th, but three closing pars ensured she remained comfortably inside the cut.

Urs was the only Indian to advance to the weekend. Diksha Dagar missed the cut by one stroke after rounds of 74 and 71 left her at 1-over 145.

Tvesa Malik finished at 2-over following scores of 74 and 72, while Avani Prashanth responded to an opening 79 with a 2-under 70. Prashanth’s improved second round was not enough to overcome the early deficit as she finished at 5-over.

South Africa’s Casandra Alexander established a five-stroke lead after following her course-record opening 63 with a 66 to reach 15-under.

Alexander’s eventful round featured two eagles and four birdies against two bogeys, putting the World No. 38 in a strong position to claim her second Ladies European Tour title.

Sara Kouskova and Brianna Navarrosa shared second at 10-under. Navarrosa produced the round of the day with a bogey-free 65, while Louise Rydqvist and Corinne Viden sat another stroke back at 9-under.

Urs will begin the weekend 10 strokes behind Alexander but only three shots outside the top five.

Photo – LET