Smriti Mehra turned a creditable one-under 71 to open up a sizable lead over Neha Tripathi after the first round of the fifth leg of Hero Women's Pro Golf Tour at the Chandigarh Golf Club.
Smriti, who has already won two titles this season, continued her good run to take a four-shot lead over Neha.
Neha, winner of the first leg, didn't have a particularly good day in the field but still managed to grab the second spot with a first round score of three-over 75.
Smriti, who is also leading the birdie race this season, was in supreme form and carded birdies on the second, fourth, fifth, 13th and 16th to command a healthy lead after the days play. She had bogeys on the eighth, 11th, 12th and 18th.
On a day when most of the golfers struggled, Neha played steadily and made fewer mistakes to finish the day at second position.
Although she had just a single birdie on the 14th, lesser number of bogeys ensured she stayed one shot clear of local girl Saaniya Sharma.
She had bogeys on the sixth, seventh, eighth and 15th. Saaniya Sharma with two birdies on the 11th and 12th finished third with four over 76.
Gursimar Badwal (A) with five over 77 finished fourth followed by Preetinder Kaur and Vani Kapoor, who are tied at fifth with identical scores of six-over 78.
