Pune: Smriti Mehra and Nalini Singh Siwach, will begin as leading stars for the 14th leg of the Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour tournament. Between them they have topped eight times in 13 tournaments.

Smriti, who is the leader, will be looking to maintaining that or extending that lead over the last two legs. The 14th leg begins on Wednesday at the 5,814 yard Pune Golf Course, which according to the players is playing very well.

In the 14th and penultimate leg, Smriti and Nalini will be the leading contenders, though Pallavi Jain, who won her first title last week, will also be hoping to make a mark. But Sharmila Nicollet, will once be absent from the field as she is playing on the Ladies European Tour in Morocco.

Neha Tripathi and Saaniya Sharma who have won once each this season are other major contenders.

Currently Smriti leads the Money list with earnings of Rs. 6,69,600 while Nalini has earned Rs. 6,18,400. Sharmila is lying third (Rs. 470,400) but Neha Tripathi (4,18,250) has a chance of overhauling her with a good showing in last two legs.

This year Smriti has won five titles, while Nalini has three. In both cases they finished behind an amateur winner once each. Aditi Ashok beat Smriti in a play-off in third leg, and Vani Kapoor won the fifth leg ahead of Nalini. But with amateurs not eligible for money prizes, the pros were credited with the top place.