Srinagar: Amateur Gurbani Singh played an impressive round and showed just why she is counted as one of the top amateurs in the country, returning a card of 4 under 68 to grab the early lead in the ninth leg of the Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour 2015. She is followed by Panchkula golfer Amandeep Drall who carded 3 under 69 on the day to steer two shots clear of Delhi’s Gauri Monga in third place at 1 under 71. The INR 7,00,000 event is being played at the Royal Springs Golf Course and will culminate on 25th June.

Gurbani had a shaky start and carded a bogey on the 1st hole. However, once she had regained her composure, the amateur from Delhi made a strong comeback firing four birdies on the 3rd, 6th, 7th and 9th holes in her front nine, and adding two more on the 11th and 13th holes in her back nine. She dropped only her second shot on the 10th hole to finish with a very impressive 4 under 68.

Amandeep Drall led the charge of the professionals, continuing with her good form in her rookie season. She carded five birdies on the 3rd, 7th, 11th, 16th and 18th holes. Two bogies on the 4th and 15th holes meant she had to settle for the second position.

Gauri Monga played a cautious round of 1 under 71, carding just two bogies on the 1st and 10th holes along with three birdies on the 8th , 9th and 16th holes to be placed third after the first round. She is followed by Pune’s Shweta Galande, who returned with a score of 2 over 74 after 18 holes. Shweta played a birdie-less front nine with three bogies on the 4th, 5th and 9th holes. She dropped another shot on the 11th hole, but birdies on the 13th and 16th holes helped her to repair the damage.

Delhi youngster Vani Kapoor, Kolkata’s Neha Tripathi and Kapurthala golfer Gursimar Badwal are tied fifth with identical scores of 3 over 75. Hero Order of Merit leader Vani Kapoor had an off day in the park. She played an even par front nine, but three bogies on the 11th, 12th and 16th holes spoilt her scoreline. Neha Tripathi carded three birdies on the 7th, 11th and 16th holes along with six bogies on the 1st, 2nd, 9th, 10th, 12th and 15th holes. Gursimar Badwal carded three birdies on the 4th, 8th and 16th holes. She also carded four bogies on the 2nd, 11th, 13th and 15th holes and a double bogey on the 10th hole. Amateur Millie Saroha, Chandigarh’s Saaniya Sharma and Delhi golfer Ankita Tiwana, who is also the defending champion, are placed tied eighth with identical scores of 4 over 76.

The Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour 2015 comprises a total of nineteen legs spanning across key locations in India.