Smriti Mehra takes two-shot lead in 17th leg of Hero WPG Tour

Despite a last hole bogey, Smriti Mehra managed to hold a two-shot lead after the opening round of the 17th leg of the Hero Women's Pro Golf Tour here on Wednesday.

Smriti had three birdies against three bogeys in her even par 72 at the Noida Golf club here.

Smriti led Ridhima Dilawari (74) and Millie Saroha (74) by two strokes while Amandeep Drall was two shots further down at 76, along with Neha Tripathi and Gursimar Badwal.

Tvesa Malik, the leader on the Order of Merit and winner of four events this year, had a terrible run between the sixth and the 12th, as she dropped four bogeys and a double bogey in the stretch and ended the day with a series of six pars and a card of 78.

She is six shots behind Smriti Mehra.

Amateur Diksha Dagar, who has a win on the pro circuit against her name, Afshan Fatima and Siddhi Kapoor shot 77 each to be Tied-seventh. Tvesa was 10th.

Smriti, who is still looking for her first win of the year, had a birdie on fourth, but she gave that back on sixth and