Diksha Dagar and three others lead the Hulencourt Women’s Open after the first round with a score of four-under 68. Aditi Ashok, also from India, had a good start and secured a place in the top 10 with a two-under 70. Avani Prashanth recovered well with an even-par 72, while Pranavi Urs finished tied for 33rd after a one-over 73.
Starting strong, Diksha had a flawless round with birdies on the first, sixth, 10th, and 14th holes. Despite challenging conditions, she remained composed and bogey-free throughout the day at Hulencourt Golf Club. Diksha expressed satisfaction with her steady performance and highlighted the difficulty in reading the greens due to increased speed compared to the previous week.
Diksha’s recent form has been impressive, with four consecutive top-20 finishes on the Ladies European Tour. Her confidence was evident as she emphasized her ability to maintain consistent play regardless of conditions. Aditi Ashok, a five-time LET champion, also had a productive day, staying within two shots of the lead with a mix of birdies and bogeys.
Avani Prashanth, who had a tied-third finish at the Dutch Ladies Open, showed resilience by recovering from a three-over start to finish even-par. Pranavi Urs, despite a one-over round, remains optimistic about her performance in the upcoming rounds. As conditions improved later in the day, several players took advantage to match Diksha’s early lead.
Van der Westhuizen, Metraux, and Law joined Diksha at the top with impressive rounds. Notably, Olympian Morgane Metraux, a two-time LET winner, showcased her skill with five birdies and one bogey. The competition remains tight, with players like Trichat Cheenglab and Ursula Wikstrom close behind the leaders.
In seventh place alongside Aditi were players from various countries, including Australia, England, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden. Unfortunately, defending champion Darcey Harry had to withdraw due to a hip injury during the opening round.
