Avani, Sneha Off to Steady Starts at Hills Open in Sweden

Gothenburg (Sweden): India’s Avani Prashanth finished strongly with back-to-back birdies to card a one-over 72, placing her tied-21st after the opening round of the Hills Open at Hills Golf & Sports Club.

Sharing the same spot on the leaderboard was Sneha Singh, who also shot 72. Both golfers were the top performers among the seven Indians in action this week, as they battled through windy and testing conditions.

New Zealand’s Momoka Kobori set the pace with a four-under 67, taking a one-shot lead over a group of seven players tied for second at three-under.

Among the other Indians, Hitaashee Bakshi (74) was tied-48th, Pranavi Urs (76) tied-71st, Amandeep Drall (77) tied-86th, Tvesa Malik (79) tied-107th, and Vani Kapoor (82) tied-123rd.

Avani, starting from the first hole, struggled early with three bogeys against a single birdie in her opening six holes. She then steadied her round with eight consecutive pars before dropping another shot on the 15th. However, she closed impressively with birdies on 17 and 18 to salvage her 72. Sneha’s round featured four birdies and five bogeys.

The 26-year-old Kobori put together a steady front nine, highlighted by a birdie on the sixth, before a hot run of three consecutive birdies from the 11th to 13th. Though she dropped a shot on 14, she bounced back immediately with a birdie on 15 to finish at four-under.

Seven players, including Sweden’s Meja Ortengren, Linda Wessberg, Lisa Pettersson, Norway’s Madelene Stavnar, England’s Alice Hewson, France’s Nastasia Nadaud, and Spain’s Luna Sobron Galmes, were tied for second at 68.

Another three players – Australia’s Maddison Hinson-Tolchard, Wales’ Darcey Harry, and Sweden’s Ingrid Lindblad – sat a further stroke back at two-under.

The tournament features a 132-player field competing in a 54-hole stroke play format, with a total prize purse of €300,000 at the 6,064-yard Hills Club course.

With inputs from IANS