Dublin’s Anna Foster found some renowned form on day three of the Hero Women’s Indian Open as the 24-year-old posted a five-under round to jump to T15 at one-over-par.
A bogey start didn’t halt momentum for Foster as the Elm Park member made eight birdies around DLF Golf and Country Club. It was a back nine flurry for Foster, making six birdies in nine holes. Foster is the only Irish player to hit red digits so far this weekend as the Dubliner is well established in the Order of Merit rankings, currently sitting in 47th.
Armagh’s Annabel Wilson did well to limit the damage of two double bogeys on the front nine as the 24-year-old got back to the club house at three-over-par, taking her to T37 at six-over-par.
Croham Hurst member Canice Screene made five bogeys and three birdies to post another two-over-par 74 as the 24-year-old sits just behind Wilson at seven-over in T43.
Tied with Screene is Cork’s Sara Byrne as the 24-year-old posted her best round of the week at even par, making four birdies and four bogeys.
Leading the way after 54 holes is DLF Golf and Country Club member Hitaashee Bakshi as the 21-year-old held the lead after two rounds and began the day with a birdie at the first before adding another on the fifth.
Bakshi holds a three-shot lead heading into the final round at nine-under, with England’s Alice Hewson in close proximity in second at six-under.
“Today was an exhausting round for me, especially the back nine because I feel the rough did get the better of me, but finally it’s over so it’s good,” said Bakshi. “I was just playing one shot at a time and seeing how it went,” she added.
Speaking about her home crowd, Bakshi said; “I love crowds, it’s so nice to see them coming out here and giving time to my game. I’m really honoured and grateful that they’ve come to watch. I’m very excited and I said it in the press conference at the start of the week that nine is a very lucky number in India, so let’s do it.”
Hunting Bakshi after posting a three-under round, Hewson said; “This is such a unique golf course and you really can’t push out there because you’ll get penalised instantly. I’m going to go and do what I always try and do, hit lots of fairways and lots of greens and give myself as many opportunities as I can.”
India’s Pranavi Urs sits in solo third place on four-under-par after a round of 73, which included a double bogey, a bogey and two birdies.
Five players are in a tie for fourth place with Indian duo Avani Prashanth and Zara Anand alongside Australia’s Kelsey Bennett, Singapore’s Shannon Tan and Sweden’s Lisa Pettersson on two-under-par.
A trio of players round out the top 10 with Sweden’s Kajsa Arwefjäll, India’s Vani Kapoor and Germany’s Verena Gimmy on one-under.
The final round will begin at 9am (local time) with the leading group teeing off at 11.00am at DLF Golf and Country Club.
Leaderboard.
