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While Diksha and Vani opened solidly, it was a more difficult day for the other Indian participants. Hitaashee Bakshi and Avani Prashanth both carded rounds of 77 to finish tied for 98th, leaving them with a tough task ahead if they are to make the 36-hole cut. Pranavi Urs found herself further down the standings after posting a first-round score of 78.
At the top of the leaderboard, Darcey Harry and Alexandra Forsterling delivered impressive rounds to take the early lead. Harry shot a six-under-par 66, while Forsterling followed closely with a five-under-par 67. Both players capitalised on calmer morning conditions and finished strongly, each sinking eagle putts on the par-5 ninth hole, their final hole of the round.
Diksha began her round from the 10th tee and experienced a mixed start. Her opening nine included three birdies, two bogeys, and a costly double bogey on the 17th hole, which was the eighth hole of her round. She steadied herself on the back nine, though a bogey on the fourth hole slowed her momentum. However, birdies on the sixth and ninth holes allowed her to close the round at even par.
Vani Kapoor, playing on a sponsor’s invitation, also had a promising start. She picked up birdies on the second and fifth holes but dropped a shot on the ninth to make the turn at one-under par. She added another birdie on the tenth but struggled toward the end of the round, recording bogeys on the 13th, 15th, and 17th holes. A birdie on the 16th helped limit the damage as she finished with a level-par score.
Welsh golfer Darcey Harry, last year’s Hulencourt Women’s Open champion on the Ladies European Tour, produced a standout round with five birdies and just one dropped shot at the 11th hole. Forsterling, a four-time LET winner, delivered a highlight moment by holing out from 114 yards for an eagle on the par-4 13th and added another eagle later in her round.
American rookie Anna Morgan sits alone in third place at four-under par after producing the best afternoon round in windy conditions, closing with a birdie on the ninth hole.
Six players share fourth place at three-under par: Austria’s Emma Spitz, Australia’s Kelsey Bennett, Italy’s Alessandra Fanali, England’s Annabell Fuller, and French players Agathe Laisne and Celine Herbin.-ANI