The Hero Women’s Indian Open (HWIO) witnessed a challenging second day at the DLF Golf and Country Club, with overnight leader Sara Kouskova dropping to 11th place. The treacherous greens, playing faster than ever before, tested the field, with only nine players managing under-par scores.
Kirsten Rudgeley of Australia rose to a shared third spot with an even par round, while the cut fell at an unprecedented 10-over 154. Nine Indian players advanced to the weekend, including Diksha Dagar, Mannat Brar, and Janneya Dasanniee.
Singapore’s Shannon Tan emerged as the clubhouse leader, sharing the top spot with England’s Alice Hewson. Tan, a rookie in her first LET season, displayed discipline and focus to navigate the challenging conditions.
Mysuru’s Pranavi Urs jumped ten places to end the day tied-seventh, the best among Indians. Ridhima Dilawari also impressed, finishing tied-12th on her home course.
Diksha Dagar recovered from a poor first round to card an even par on Day 2, while local girl Hitaashee Bakshi made a remarkable comeback with a four-under round, the lowest of the day.
The greens continued to pose a significant challenge, with players opting for conservative approaches to avoid penalties. The course’s difficulty drew criticism from Dagar’s father, who argued that it was not suitable for the European tour.
