Chandigarh: Local girl Amandeep Drall, one of the lesser known stars on the IGU`s ladies circuit, grabbed a two-shot lead over Order of Merit leader Vani Kapoor in the first round of the USHA All India Ladies Amateur, the flagship event of the IGU`s domestic Tour, on Tuesday.
The 19-year-old Amandeep from Shivalik Golf Course near here, carded a one-over 72, while Vani scored 74 as the duo opened a handy gap over the rest. Gursimar Badwal shot 77 and Tvesa Malik (78).
Anisha Padukone and Gurbani Singh, the 2009 champion, shot 79 each. Aditi Ashok had to struggle with an 80, as did Mehar Atwal, Raksha Phadke and Nikita Arjun.
Amandeep had three birdies and four bogeys and two of her bogeys came on the par-fives, the second and the 13th.
Vani Kapoor also seemed like coming in with a 72, with two birdies, but she dropped two shots on the 16th and 18th to fall to 74.
The All India Amateur Ladies golf dates back to 1906 and it is now more than 100 years old, though the event was not held a few times in the 1940s.
Vani is leading the current Order of Merit at 227 points and holds a 16-point lead over her nearest rival, Gurbani Singh (211), and lying third is Aditi Ashok (209). The points are calculated on the basis of six-best finishes.
The event is being held at the popular Chandigarh Golf Club and, in a city which has produced many top golfers in both men and women`s section for India.
Usha is supporting the four regional events, Southern India, the Northern India, Western and Eastern India and the All India Amateur events on the IGU Ladies circuit.
Usha also supports Junior golf with tournaments at Delhi, Bangalore and Chandigarh and has been conducting the Junior Training Programme at the DGC since 2006.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, December 13, 2011, 21:33