Indian Open | Tonje Daffinrud scores new best; Takes the lead at end of Day 1

Indian Open | Tonje Daffinrud scores new best; Takes the lead at end of Day 1

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Norway’s Tonje Daffinrud registered a personal best of six-under-par 66 in the first round of the Women’s Indian Open on Thursday. Meanwhile, India’s Ridhima Dilawari, who is only playing her second professional tournament, returned a card of 3-under 69 to be placed fifth after round one.

Daffinrud ended the first round of the Indian Open at number one spot after she recorded a personal best score of six-under-par 66. The 27-year old from Oslo scored three birdies to end the day, which took her to a total of seven birdies in the hot and humid conditions in Gurugram.

“I’ve never shot under par on this course before and to make quite a lot of birdies and not many mistakes was a really good day. I wasn’t paying too much attention to the score and then I saw my name. Before the round, I said under 70 would be good,” Daffinrud said post the day’s play.

Daffinrud also spoke about the dreaded 17th hole on the course and said, “It’s a hole where you almost want to close your eyes while you play it. I hit it close, to two metres, made the putt. I lowered my shoulders and went for it on the 18th. My iron game was great. I didn’t make many mistakes, which is hard to do on this course, but I did have a lot of birdie chances within five metres and pretty good putting, so I made it simple today.”

Meanwhile, 20-year old Indian youngster Ridhima Dilawari put in a stunning performance in what was just the second professional tournament of her career. Dilawari was the toast of the Indian contingent when she returned a card of 3-under 69 to be placed tied fifth after the first round of the Indian Open. She trailed leader Duffinrad by three shots at the end of Round 1.

“I was in college until recently. I was studying in US (Columbia) but decided to give golf a 100% because it’s what I think I want to do in life. Until I turned pro, I didn’t play here at all. Delhi Golf Club is my home club but because DLF allows all women professionals to play and practice here, so over the past three weeks I have been coming here more often,” Dilawari told TOI.

First round scores: 66 (6-under)- Tonje Daffinrud (Nor); 68-Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras (Tha), Marianne Skarpnord (Nor), Christine Wolf (Aut); 69- Caroline Hedwall (Swe), Florentyna Parker (Eng), Ridhima Dilawari (Ind).

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