Smriti Mehra takes early lead Hero WPGT

Panchkula: Smriti Mehra got off to a great start in the sixth leg of the Hero Women`s Pro Golf Tour 2013, taking a six shot lead over Ankita Tiwana, Gursimran Badwal (A) and Vani Kapoor to lead after the first round.

The veteran golfer, who has already won two titles this season and leads the Hero Order of Merit 2013, scored a par 72 in the first round to open up a comfortable lead over Ankita, Gursimran (A) and Vani, who are tied at second place with first round score of six over 78, the Panchkula Golf Club. Smriti had two double bogeys in the first four holes but steadied herself from thereon to sink five birdies on the fifth, sixth, 11th, 12th and 15th. Her double bogeys came on the first and fourth holes and the solitary bogey on the 17th. Ankita carded three birdies on the fifth, 12th and 14th whereas, Vani has four birdies on the 10th, 11th, 13th and 16th. Amateur golfer Gursimran Badwal who is tied second with Ankita and Vani after the first round, carded three birdies on the fifth, eight and 16th holes. All three will have their task cut out tomorrow if they want to close the gap between them and Smriti. The winner of the fifth leg, Neha Tripathi had a disappointing day on the greens today and is lying tied eighth with Pallavi Jain with a round one score of 82. Smriti Mehra - 72, Ankita Tiwana - 78, Gursimran Badwal (A) - 78, Vani Kapoor - 78. PTI