Gaurika out to reclaim top spot

An upbeat Saaniya Sharma, who just ended a more than two-year title drought, will be seeking to further improve her position on the Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour 2017 this week.

Gaurika Bishnoi, overtaken by Amandeep Drall last week on the Order of Merit, will be hoping to cash in due to the absence of Drall, Vani Kapoor and Neha Tripathi, to get back to the top of the Hero Order of Merit. Amandeep leads Gaurika by only `13,100 at this stage while Gursimar follows in third place and Saaniya at fourth.

Amandeep, Vani and Neha are playing in Europe this week at the Andalucia Costa Del Sol Open in Spain. Vani (3), Amandeep (2) and Neha (1) have won six of the 11 legs of the Hero WPG Tour so far.

The seasoned Chandigarh-based Saaniya will lead the field this week as the 12th leg of the WPG gets under way on Wednesday at the Delhi Golf Club course. She has been paired with Tvesa Malik and Suchtira Ramesh. Gaurika is paired with Afshan Fatima, who has had some decent results, but is still looking for her first title, and Gursimar, who has won twice this season.

Gaurika one of the most consistent performers this season has won only once but been in contention very often.

Smriti Mehra, one of the flag bearers of Indian women’s golf, is also in the field this week alongside Mehar Atwal and Ankita Tiwana.