Diksha makes modest start with even par round at Hulencourt

Diksha Dagar, one of the seven Indians on show at the Hulencourt Women’s Open, began with a modest even par 72 in the first round of the event. Diksha, who has been in fine form this season and has been in the top-10 of the Ladies European Tour’s Order of Merit, had three birdies and three bogeys. She started on the back nine and bogeyed the 14th, but turned in one-under with birdies on the 16th and the 18th.

A bogey on the second followed by a birdie on the third meant she was still under par. A bogey on the seventh, which was her 16th hole, saw her finish at even par. Rookie Avani Prashanth was 1-under through seven holes, while Amandeep Drall, playing her first LET event this season, and Sneha Singh, playing her second event, shot 2-over 74 each and were T-67th.

Tvesa Malik carded 76 as did Vani Kapoor and both were T-106 while Hitaashee Bakshi struggled to 79 and was T-128. Leading the field was Australia’s Kelsey Bennett (67) who had nine birdies alongside two bogeys and on double bogey late in her round on the fourth, which was 13th hole. She began on the 10th with three birdies in the first four holes and finished with three birdies on the last three holes.

Three players, Kylie Henry of Scotland, French golfer Nastasia Nadaud, and Lydia Hall of Wales finished their first rounds with 69. Helen Briem of Germany was also 3-under but had nine more holes to play. The 2024 LET Rookie of the Year Briem entered this week’s Hulencourt Women’s Open with renewed confidence following a strong runner-up finish at the Tenerife Ladies Open. Hulencourt is hosting the tournament for the first time. PTI