Asian Games golf: Pranavi Urs two shots off lead after 63

Pranavi Urs fired a bogey-free 7-under 63 to move into sole second place in the Asian Games women's golf competition, two shots behind Singapore's Shannon Tan. Her round also lifted India to third in the women's team standings

Nagoya: India’s Pranavi Urs fired a blistering 7-under 63 in the second round to move into sole second place, just two shots behind leader Shannon Tan of Singapore, in the women’s golf competition at the Asian Games here on Thursday.

Urs started her round with back-to-back birdies, sinking four in her first six holes before adding three more in a spectacular stretch from the 13th to the 16th. She completed the round without a bogey.

---

Her spectacular charge also transformed India’s position in the women’s team competition, lifting the country into the bronze-medal position at 7-under 273. Diksha Dagar (71-73) was tied 21st, while Aditi Ashok (71-74) was tied 25th. The two best scores in each round count towards the team medals.

Pranavi’s two-round tally of 11-under 129 leaves her two shots behind Tan (63-64), who leads at 13-under.

Asked about cricket’s popularity and the growing number of cricketers taking to golf, Pranavi quipped, “I think Virat should start golf, he would make golf so popular in India.”

Meanwhile, in the men’s section, Saptak Talwar (66-68), who was third after the opening round, slipped to tied seventh despite carding a 2-under 68. He is now 6-under.

Chinese Taipei’s Wang We Hsuan (65-66) and China’s Ding Wenyi (67-64) share the lead at 9-under. Ding won the Asian Amateur Championships in Japan two years ago and turned professional soon after.

Japan’s Kazuki Higa (65-67) and former Hero Indian Open champion Keita Nakajima (66-66) are tied third.

Japan (264), China (265) and Korea (266) occupy the top three spots in the men’s team competition, with India (273) in fifth place, one behind Chinese Taipei (269) in fourth.

The bigger picture is not lost on Pranavi. With the Hero Women’s Indian Open only a couple of weeks away, a strong Asian Games showing could provide valuable momentum.

“Always good to be in contention. Unfortunately, there haven’t been a lot of times where I’ve been in contention on Tour. So to kind of get that momentum going towards the Hero Women’s Indian Open in a couple weeks is a good sign,” said the Hero-supported golfer.

With 36 holes still to play, India are firmly in the battle for medals in the women’s team event. China lead the standings, with Singapore second and India five shots behind the leaders and four behind the runners-up.

Pranavi’s round featured clean ball-striking, aggressive but controlled approach play and precise putting that kept the birdies flowing.

She began with a 20-foot birdie putt on the first hole and never looked back.

“The game was pretty solid from tee-to-green. Didn’t really have any bad shots. A very good, solid round, and that was that,” Pranavi said, summing up a round that was anything but ordinary.

Her approach was straightforward.

“I put myself in good positions off the tee, which gave me good numbers to hit the approach shots. Some of the shots that I got, I was really comfortable with those numbers, and I stuck it in to five feet,” she said. “Just hitting fairways and greens, that’s always been my game plan.”

Pranavi’s strong round proved particularly valuable for India as neither of her teammates could match her scoring spree. Diksha slipped to tied 21st at 4-over, while Aditi was tied 25th at 5-over.

Pranavi’s 7-under therefore provided the major boost India needed, taking the team to 7-under overall and into third place behind China and Singapore.

The individual battle, however, is likely to intensify. Pranavi will play in the final group in Friday’s third round, just two shots behind Tan.

“I’ve been out there in the final group a few times, and I’ve always enjoyed it. I’ve enjoyed the pressure,” said Pranavi.

But she is refusing to get ahead of herself.

“I’m not thinking about anything as of now, I’m just thinking about tomorrow’s round.”

Asked about the popularity of cricket and the number of cricketers now playing golf, she said with a smile, “For a change they should come watch us.”

She pointed out that several cricketers have taken up golf, including former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, with whom she has played.

“He’s a very good player, hits the ball miles, but it can go on either side,” she said.

For Pranavi, the next two rounds will be a major test. With Tan in her sights, she enters Friday’s final group carrying India’s strongest individual medal challenge, while her performance has simultaneously kept the women’s team firmly in the hunt for an Asian Games podium finish.