Tvesa Malik, who is having a terrific season with one win and four other Top-5 finishes in six starts, got off to a good start with a steady even par 72 in the seventh leg of the Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour at the Prestige Golfshire course in Bengaluru.

Malik, winner of the third leg in Pune, had an eventful start with a bogey followed by two birdies. Thereafter she had two bogeys on eighth and 11th and a birdie on par-3 17th for a 72.

That put her one shot clear of Amandeep Drall, who is still winless this season, and Gursimar Badwal, looking to add to her two earlier wins this year. Amandeep and Gursimar shot 1-over 73 each.

Amandeep had two birdies against three bogeys, while Gursimar had as many as four birdies, but she also gave away five bogeys. Gursimar’s four birdies were the most by any players on the first day.

Amateur Ridhima Dilawari (75) was sole fourth, while Smriti Mehra and Anisha Padukone carded 76 each to be Tied-5th. Another amateur Pranavi Urs (77) was seventh, as Millie Saroha, amateur Sehar Atwal and pre-tournament favourite Neha Tripathi were Tied-8th with rounds of 79 each.

Ashbeer Saini sizzles with opening round seven-under-63

Ashbeer Saini, 24, sizzled with a seven-under-63 on the opening day of the PGTI Feeder Tour event at the Madhuban Meadows Golf Club in Karnal. Saini, from Kapurthala, enjoyed a healthy four-shot lead over the rest of the field. Vashista S Pawar of Coimbatore was in second place with a score of three-under-67.

Saini, a 10th tee starter, had a whirlwind start as he picked up five birdies on his first 11 holes thanks to some quality chip-putts and a 20-feet conversion from off the green on the 17th.

His only blemish came on the third where he three-putted for bogey but he followed that up with birdies on the next three holes to set up the tournament for himself.

“This round is a big confidence-booster as I’ve been out of form for quite some time now due to a wrist injury I suffered couple of years back. I’m now back to full fitness and slowly regaining my rhythm.

I drove it well today and converted everything on the greens. The four birdies on the back-nine provided the spark to my round. It’s great to start the week in this manner. The focus will now be on capitalizing on this strong start,” said Saini, who turned professional in 2013 at the age of 19.

Vashista S Pawar struck four birdies and a bogey during his round of 67 to be placed second. Karnal’s Maniram Sharma returned a three-over-73 to be tied 31st.

With inputs from PTI