New Delhi: Gurbani Singh carded an impressive one-under 71 and opened a huge seven-shot lead at the end of the second round of the Usha DGC Ladies Open at the Delhi Golf Club on Wednesday. Her 71 was by far the best score of the day, when the next best was 74 by Astha Madan and Raksha Phadke (90-74).

Lying second seven behind was Millie Saroha (77-75) at 152 and Astha was third (82-74). Aditi Ashok disappointed with a second successive 78 and was fourth at 156, as many as 11 shots behind Gurbani (74-71). Aditi was tied fourth with Gursimar Badwal (79-77).

Gurbani, who will move to the top of the IGU Order of Merit with a win here – as leader Vani Kapoor was disqualified on Tuesday and Mehar Atwal has skipped the event. Gurbani had birdies on first and eighth, both par-fives. She dropped a bogey on ninth and tenth but the birdie on 15th ensured she was under par for the day at 71.

Millie had no birdies but one bogey on fifth on front nine. She had pars all through till the 18th, she double bogeyed for a seven and a 75.

Astha Madan had a bogey on fifth and then three in a row from ninth to 11th to go four-over. But birdies on 12th and 18th, she reduced that to 74 and move to third.

This season Gurbani has been in good form, having won the Army Ladies title this season, and this title at the DGC could well put her on top of the Merit List. There is still the Eastern India and Usha All India Ladies Amateur left, making the Merit List battle very interesting.

Usha will also sponsor the All India Amateur event in Chandigarh this year and later in 2012, they will add the Eastern India Ladies.