Swede Pernilla Lindberg and Thai Nontaya Srisawang surge to the top at Hero Women’s Indian Open
Swedes appear to be on a rampage at the latest Ladies European Tour (LET) event, the Hero Women’s Indian Open on Friday, with Pernilla Lindberg on top of the leaderboard after an impressive opening round of six-under, 66. She is joined by Thailand’s Nontaya
Srisawang to share the lead as the duo surged to the top battling the scenic DLF Golf and Country Club in the city of Gurgaon near New Delhi. But the leaders are facing a formidable threat to their early lead as the LET Rookie Caroline Hedwall is catching
up with stellar speed.
Hedwall, who is destined to be declared Rookie of the Year on LET for her outstanding performance in the current year, carded round of five-under, 67 to finish one shot behind the leaders. The course was rendered soft and playable after an overnight rain
and slightly foggy conditions with lows of 10 degree Celsius.
The event is one of the unique LET events staged in India for consecutive years and brings a distinct Indian blend to an otherwise all-European entourage. None of the top-three leaders on the first day stumbled on a bogey in their opening 18-hole stretch.
Hedwall is sharing the joint third along with Englishwoman Florentyna Parker and Thai player Pornanong Phatlum who has already won the tournament twice on previous occasions.
Parker carded a dazzling eagle at par-five, 6th but stumbled on a bogey at par-four, 12th to lose her grasp on the lead. Kiran Matharu, another Englishwoman, is standing as an outright sixth with her strong four-under, 68 on the first
day. She carded three birdies, an eagle and dropped a shot at par-four, 12th.
No fewer than six players are tied for the joint seventh including Australian Karen Lunn, Englishwoman Felicity Johnson, South African Lee-Anne Pace, Scot Vikki Laing, German Cassandra Kirkland and American Hannah Jun, scoring a humble three-under, 69.
Solheim Cup star Laura Davies, also the defending champion, started off with a disappointing round, carding three-over, 75. The LET heavyweight is hoping to bag another title before the season finally comes to a conclusion. Davies has won four major events
on the LET apart from her several high profile victories in her stellar career.
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