Bengaluru, June 16: Pranavi Urs roared back into contention in the eighth leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour at the Karnataka Golf Association course with a 3-under 69, despite two bogeys on the back nine, to get into a share of the lead with Ridhima Dilawari (69-74). The leading duo is now 1-under 143 for 36 holes and three shots ahead of third placed Afshan Fatima (73-73).

A win this week would mean a fourth win in eight events this season and a further consolidation of her position at the top of the Hero Order of Merit standings.

Three players, Seher Atwal (76-71), Jahanvi Bakshi (73-74) and Trimann Saluja (72-75) were tied for fourth place, while Siddhi Kapoor (76-72) and Gaurika Bishnoi (75-73) were tied for seventh.

Neha Tripathi (79-70) improved on her first round score by nine shots and had the day’s second best card of 2-under 70. She was ninth, while amateur Smriti Bhargava (77) rounded off the Top ten.

The cut fell at 159 and 26 players made the final round.

Pranavi, who has sometimes begun slow, moved back into action after the disappointing first round of 74. With birdies on fifth and ninth, she turned in 2-under and birdied the 10th too. At that stage she was 3-under for the day and the run suggested she could further better her scores. A bogey on Par-5 11th and Par-3 15th saw her drop down before she closed with a birdie on 18th to ensure she shared the top spot.

Overnight leader Ridhima seemed set for sole lead before a late disaster pulled her back. She had three birdies, two of them on the Par-3s, but she also dropped a double bogey on the Par-4 seventh. Even at that stage she was set for a handy lead as she was 1-under for the day, after a 3-under 69 on the first day. The big blow, however, was the triple bogey she suffered on the Par-5 14th and thereafter she made it to the finish with four pars, for a disappointing 74.

A Battle Royale is set as Pranavi goes for her fourth win of the season and Ridhima aims to end a long title drought since her win in January 2021. Afshan Fatima will be looking for any openings if either of the leaders falter at the start.

Tee times for Round 3 of the 8th leg of the Hero WPGT at Karnataka Golf Association, Bengaluru

1 7:00 am: Millie Saroha 159; Rhea Purvi S. 159;

2 7:10 am: Saanvi Somu (A) 158; Astha Madan 158; Suchitra Ramesh 157

3 7:20 am: Disha Kavery 156; Gauri Karhade 156; Lakhmehar Pardesi 155

4 7:35 am: Rhea Jha 155; Agrima Manral 153; Heena Kang (A) 153;

5 7:45 am: Jyotsana Singh 153; Asmitha Sathish 153; Khushi Khanijau 153;

6 7:55 am: Jia Kataria (A) 152; Durga Nittur 152; Smriti Bhargav (A) 151

7 8:10 am: Neha Tripathi 149; Gaurika Bishnoi 148; Siddhi Kapoor 148

8 8:20 am: Trimann Saluja 147; Jahanvi Bakshi 147; Seher Atwal 147

9 8:30 am: Afshan Fatima 146; Ridhima Dilawari 143; Pranavi Urs 143