Pranavi Urs, Aditi Ashok open with 2-under 71 at London Championship
Synopsis
Pranavi Urs and Aditi Ashok both opened with identical 2-under 71s at the London Championship, keeping India's golf hopes alive four shots behind Canada's Anna Huang, who fired a stunning 6-under 67 featuring an eagle and four birdies on the back nine alone.
Key Takeaways
Pranavi Urs and Aditi Ashok each carded 2-under 71 in round one of the London Championship on 7 August .
The Indian pair sit four shots behind first-round leader Anna Huang of Canada, who shot 6-under 67 .
Diksha Dagar finished at 2-over 75 , tied for 54th , while Avani Prashanth carded a 6-over 79 , tied for 101st .
Australia's Kelsey Bennett and Austria's Emma Spitz share second place at 5-under 68 .
England's Gemma Clews recorded the first hole-in-one of her professional career on the par-3 17th .
Pranavi Urs and Aditi Ashok made solid opening-round statements at the London Championship on 7 August, each carding a 2-under 71 at the par-73 Centurion Club to sit four shots off the pace set by Canada's Anna Huang. The Indian pair remain firmly in contention heading into the second round.
How the Indian Duo Played
Pranavi, backed by Hero, began her round from the 10th tee and surged to 2-under through her opening four holes before surrendering those gains. She steadied herself with five consecutive pars and then closed strongly, picking up three birdies against one bogey over her final six holes to finish at 71.
Aditi also started on the back nine, producing a composed round of three birdies and just one bogey. Two birdies in her last four holes sealed a 2-under scorecard, leaving both Indians level and in the hunt as the tournament progresses.
Tougher Day for Diksha and Avani
Diksha Dagar endured a mixed outing — an opening birdie was quickly undone by bogeys on the next two holes and another before the turn. Two birdies and two bogeys on the inward nine left her at 2-over 75, tied for 54th place.
Avani Prashanth had the most difficult day among the four Indians, posting a 6-over 79 to sit tied for 101st. She will need a significantly lower score in round two to make the cut.
Huang Sets the Pace at Six-Under
Three-time Ladies European Tour winner Anna Huang of Canada delivered the standout round of the day, firing a 6-under 67 to lead the field. Beginning on the 10th, she collected birdies on the 13th and 16th and then eagled the 18th. A solitary bogey on the third was quickly answered with back-to-back birdies on the fifth and sixth, and a final birdie at the ninth completed a commanding opening statement.
The Rest of the Leaderboard
Australia's Kelsey Bennett and Austria's Emma Spitz shared second place at 5-under 68. Spitz's round was among the most dramatic of the day, featuring nine birdies alongside two double bogeys. Bennett birdied the opening hole, added gains on the seventh, ninth, 12th, and 13th, dropped a bogey on the 16th, then birdied the last to finish one stroke behind Huang.
England's Charlotte Heath was alone in fourth at 4-under 69, her round including an eagle, five birdies, and three bogeys. Seven players shared fifth place at 3-under, among them Sweden's Louise Rydqvist, Singapore's Shannon Tan, Germany's Olivia Cowan and Aline Krauter, Italy's Alessia Nobilio and Anna Zanusso, and Ireland's Aine Donegan.
Notably, England's Gemma Clews recorded the first hole-in-one of her professional career on the par-3 17th, adding a memorable footnote to the opening day. With the cut still two rounds away, all eyes will be on whether Pranavi and Aditi can close the gap on Huang in round two.
Point of View
And the fact that both Pranavi and Aditi are level rather than divergent is a quiet strength — India effectively has two shots at a leaderboard push rather than one. The bigger concern is Avani Prashanth's 79, which leaves her needing a near-flawless second round just to make the cut. Huang's 67 was built on an eagle and opportunistic birdie clustering, the kind of round that can flatten out under pressure; the Indian pair's steadier, bogey-light scorecards may prove the more durable template over four days.
NationPress
7 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Pranavi Urs and Aditi Ashok perform in round one of the London Championship?
Both Pranavi Urs and Aditi Ashok carded identical 2-under 71s in the opening round at the par-73 Centurion Club on 7 August. They are tied, sitting four shots behind first-round leader Anna Huang of Canada.
Who leads the London Championship after round one?
Canada's Anna Huang leads after firing a 6-under 67, which included birdies, an eagle, and just one bogey. Australia's Kelsey Bennett and Austria's Emma Spitz share second place at 5-under 68.
How did Diksha Dagar and Avani Prashanth fare in round one?
Diksha Dagar finished at 2-over 75, tied for 54th, after a mixed round of birdies and bogeys. Avani Prashanth had a difficult day, posting a 6-over 79 to sit tied for 101st and faces a tough task to make the cut.
Where is the London Championship being played?
The London Championship is being played at the par-73 Centurion Club. The tournament is part of the Ladies European Tour calendar.
What was the notable highlight from the first round beyond the leaderboard?
England's Gemma Clews recorded the first hole-in-one of her professional career on the par-3 17th hole during the opening round, providing one of the day's most memorable moments.
