Women’s Indian Open: Vani Kapoor leads Indian quartet into top-10 after second round as Aline Krauter takes control

Diksha Dagar remained tied at third place after the second day.

Gurugram: Four Indian professionals led by Vani Kapoor are in the top 10 at the halfway stage of the ongoing Hero Women’s Indian Open here on Friday, delighting the home fans in the Ladies European Tour (LET) tournament.

Vani Kapoor had a dramatic second round with six birdies and four bogeys, to take her 36-hole tally to six-under 138, still she kept herself in contention on a moving day as Germany’s Aline Krauter took a one-stroke lead after carding a four-under 68 in the $400,000 event.

“It was quite an up and down round. I would make one birdie and then drop a bogey. But I am glad that I held on and I am pretty happy with the round overall. It’s really a different feeling [playing at home]. But I mean it is what it is. I was nervous but I think it’s helping, it’s channelizing my goals and my process,” Vani Kapoor said later.

Having her friends and family for the company on her home turf also motivated the 29-year-old. Keeping her card on the women's Indian open is also one of the targets of the season as Vani Kapoor is 120th on the Race to Costa del Sol but she is more focused on the process right now than anything else.

“Obviously keeping my card is important, but right now I’m not thinking about that. I feel that I’ve come to terms with it, irrespective I’m still going to be playing golf and I love the sport. I feel I’m playing quite well. As I said earlier, my scores have not been reflecting my game. The plan is to go out there and play one shot at a time,” she said.

Another Indian Diksha Dagar scored an even-par 72, which saw her sink three birdies against as many bogeys, to hang on to tied third place along with Sara Kjellker of Sweden. Diksha felt she could have done far better but for ‘poor club selection.’

“I didn't start well but it was alright. Today my putting has let me down. And today the pin position was a little bit tougher than yesterday. Also, I feel today I made a bad decision in club selection. I should have played a little bit more aggressively,” Diksha said. 

Overnight leader Madelene Stavnar of Norway slipped to joint fifth position alongside Hannah Burke of England after submitting a card of two-over 74 for identical totals of four-under 140.

Indian duo of Gaurika Bishnoi and amateur Avani Prashanth shared the seventh spot at three-under 141. Switzerland’s Kim Metraux and Liz Young of England were tied for ninth place with matching totals of two-under 142.

The cut was declared at six-over 150 and a total of 56 players missed the weekend rounds including 22 Indians.

Indian amateur Vidhatri Urs (even-par 144) was lying in tied 14th place followed by compatriot Ridhima Dilawari (1-over 145) in joint 20th position. Khushi Khanijau (tied 29th; 2-over 146), Neha Tripathi (tied 35th; 3-over 147), Nishtha Madan (tied 51st; 5-over 149) and Amandeep Drall (tied 57th; 6-over 150) made the weekend rounds.