Diksha Dagar and Hitaashee Bakshi Join Top 10 as Hannah Green Aims for Third Title
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Gold Coast, March 21 (NationPress) Hitaashee Bakshi and Diksha Dagar have surged to a tie for sixth place following the third round of the Australian WPGA Championship, each at 9-under par.
Bakshi improved her standing by two positions with a commendable 4-under 67, while Dagar showcased an outstanding performance, scoring 6-under 65 to leap from tied-16th into the top 10.
In the meantime, Hannah Green is on track to claim her third consecutive title. Fresh from victories at the Women’s Australian Open and the HSBC Women’s World Championship, Green shot a 4-under 67 to maintain a two-shot advantage at 14-under par.
She is being closely followed by Vanessa Knecht from Switzerland and Casandra Alexander from South Africa. Green's round included seven birdies and four bogeys.
Bakshi had a varied start with two birdies and three bogeys in her initial eight holes. However, she rebounded effectively with two consecutive birdies on the 11th and 12th, added another on the 14th, and finished strongly with an eagle on the 18th. Her total now stands at 9-under, five strokes behind the leader, after earlier rounds of 69 and 68.
Dagar, who started with rounds of 67 and 72, delivered one of the day's top performances. She began with a birdie and maintained a bogey-free streak through the first 11 holes, accumulating multiple birdies along the way. Despite a single bogey on the 13th, she quickly bounced back with three consecutive birdies, finishing with a 65.
Pranavi Urs, the third Indian to make the cut, faced challenges, carding a 4-over 75. Despite an eagle on the fifth and a birdie on the seventh, a series of bogeys and a double bogey hindered her progress.
Green, a seven-time LPGA champion, acknowledged the pressure that comes with leading the tournament. She remarked that as one of the favorites, she anticipates fierce competition and wouldn’t be surprised if a fellow competitor delivers a record-breaking round on the final day.