WPGT 2026: Vidhatri stages great recovery to take lead in 13th Leg

Gurugram, Sep 23 (IANS) Vidhatri Urs bounced back from a disastrous start of three bogeys in a row in the first three holes to fight back and finish at 3-under 69 and take the first-round lead in the 13th Leg of the Women’s Pro Golf Tour (WPGT).

Playing at the challenging DLF Golf and Country Club, Gurugram, which will also host the Women’s Indian Open next month, Vidhatri fought back with seven birdies against just one more bogey in the remaining holes for a splendid 69.

It was a day when only two players, Vidhatri and Jasmine Shekar (71), went under par, while India’s star player Diksha Dagar, who flies off to the Asian Games next week, carded even par 72 alongside Mannat Brar. Diksha and Mannat were tied for third.

Gaurika Bishnoi, keeping one eye on the Women’s Indian Open next month, shot 1-over 73 and was tied for fifth with Vani Kapoor, who has a stellar record at the HWIO.

Vidhatri, who won the 10th Leg at Zion Hills this season, displayed a lot of resilience and courage as she set out to repair the early damage of three bogeys in the first three holes. Back-to-back birdies on the fourth and the fifth gave her some breathing space, but another bogey on the sixth meant she was still 2-over.

Then came the fightback. She birdied the eighth and the ninth to get to even par at the turn. On the back nine, she was full of confidence as she birdied the 13th, 15th and the 18th and dropped no more shots for a 69.

Diksha dropped a bogey on the third, but three birdies on the fifth, seventh and the ninth saw her turn in 2-under. However, the back nine saw her drop three shots against just one birdie.

Jasmine was 4-under through nine but slipped with three birdies before finishing birdie-bogey on the last two holes for a 71, and she trailed Vidhatri by two shots.

Tvesa Malik, Nayanika Sanga and Lavanya Jadon shot 2-over 74 each to be Tied-seventh, while as many as five players led by Ridhima Dilawari, Eti Chaudhary, Karishma Govind, Shreshta Shukla and Sifat Sagoo were Tied-10th after shooting 3-over 75.

–IANS

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