Ahmedabad, Jan 21 (IANS) Ridhima Dilawari, who finished second a week ago in the opening leg of the 2026 Women’s Pro Golf Tour (WPGT), was very steady over the final eight holes to take a one-shot lead in the first round of the second leg at the Kalhaar Blues & Greens in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.

As the second event of the season got underway, Ridhima had two pairs of back-to-back birdies – first on the seventh and the eighth, and again on the 14th and the 15th. However, she also dropped shots on the 5th and tenth to finish at 2 under 70.

Sneha Singh, keen to make amends for a not-too-good first leg, had a bogey-free round, but with only one birdie, she finished at 1-under 71 and was second behind Ridhima.

Six players, led by the 2025 Order of Merit winner Vani Kapoor, Jahanvi Bakshi, Nayanika Sanga, amateur Mahreen Bhatia, Karishma Govind, and rookie pro Saanvi Somu, were tied fifth at 1-over 73 each.

Ridhima, who plans to focus on the domestic events on the Women’s Pro Golf Tour (WPGT) and the IGPL this year, opened with four pars before dropping a shot on the Par-5 fifth. She recovered from that with birdies on the seventh and the eighth. Another dropped shot on the 10th meant she was even par yet again. Back-to-back gains on the 14th and the 15th ensured an under-par round and the lead.

Sneha, who won twice in 2025, parred 15 holes in a row before finding a birdie on the Par-3 16th for her sole birdie of the round. She ended with two more pars for a 71. Amandeep had two birdies against a double bogey, while amateur Zara had a bogey start and another one late in the round on the 17th, but also had two birdies on the ninth and the 12th.

Nayanika, one of the six players at Tied-fifth, had the most birdies with five, but she also had four bogeys, three of which came in the first four holes, besides a triple bogey on the Par-3 seventh. Vani Kapoor had a rough bogey-bogey start, but birdies on the ninth and the 11th repaired that damage before she dropped another shot on the Par-5 14th.

Last week’s winner, Jasmine Shekar, had a disappointing start with a 7-over 79 that included four bogeys, two doubles, and just one birdie on the closing hole.

–IANS

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