Pranavi Urs shoots 3-under 70, tied second at Morocco Ladies Open
Synopsis
Pranavi Urs opened the Morocco Ladies Open with a polished 3-under 70 to sit just two shots off the lead — her most credible title bid yet on the Ladies European Tour. With ten players tied for second and only Bennett ahead, the 23-year-old Indian is right where she needs to be.
Key Takeaways
Pranavi Urs shot a 3-under 70 in Round 1 of the Morocco Ladies Open in Rabat on 22 May .
She is tied second , two shots behind overnight leader Kelsey Bennett of Australia ( 5-under 68 ).
Pranavi carded three consecutive birdies on holes 1, 2, and 3 of her front nine before a bogey on the 4th.
Avani Prashanth and Diksha Dagar are tied 61st at 2-over 75 ; Hitaashee Bakshi is tied 99th at 5-over 78 .
Pranavi is the first Indian woman professional to win a mixed professional event, having claimed the IGPL Invitational Mumbai .
Pranavi Urs opened her campaign at the Morocco Ladies Open in Rabat with a composed 3-under 70 on 22 May, claiming a share of second place on the first-round leaderboard. The 23-year-old Indian sits just two shots behind overnight leader Kelsey Bennett of Australia, who carded a bogey-interrupted but brilliant 5-under 68 to head the field.
How Pranavi's Round Unfolded
Starting from the back nine, Pranavi settled quickly with a birdie on the 11th hole and followed it with seven successive pars to make the turn at 1-under. The momentum shifted decisively on the front nine, where she strung together three consecutive birdies on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd holes to briefly threaten the lead. A bogey on the 4th checked her charge, but she steadied with five closing pars to sign for a polished opening round.
Bennett Sets the Pace
Leader Kelsey Bennett was the most aggressive scorer of the day, picking up birdies on the 1st, 2nd, 7th, 8th, 12th, 13th, and 16th holes against two bogeys on the 14th and 15th. Her 5-under 68 gives her a comfortable cushion heading into the second round. Japan's Ayako Uehara, Singapore's Shannon Tan, and England's Hannah Screen were among the bogey-free players who joined Pranavi in the tied-second group — a total of ten players sharing that position.
Other Indians Struggle on Day One
Avani Prashanth and Diksha Dagar endured difficult starts, both returning 2-over 75 to be placed tied 61st. Avani's round was derailed by a costly quadruple bogey on the second hole of her front nine, though she rallied with birdies later in the round. Diksha managed a lone birdie on the 2nd hole but consecutive bogeys on the 5th and 6th kept her above par. Hitaashee Bakshi carded a 5-over 78, placing tied 99th after five bogeys on the back nine, before recovering slightly with late birdies on the 8th and 9th.
Pranavi's Road to a Breakthrough
This strong opening is consistent with Pranavi's recent upward trajectory on the Ladies European Tour. Last season, she finished inside the top 10 at the Hero Women's Indian Open. She also made history by winning the IGPL Invitational Mumbai in a mixed professional field, becoming the first Indian woman professional to triumph against male professionals in such a competition. A maiden Ladies European Tour title increasingly looks a matter of when, not if.
What to Watch Next
With ten players bunched within two shots of the lead after Round 1, the leaderboard remains tightly contested. Pranavi will need to maintain her birdie momentum while managing the bogey risk that cost her momentum on the 4th hole. A second successive under-par round could put her in genuine contention for her first professional title on the tour.
Point of View
Having already shown she can birdie-burst and recover from a bogey in the same round. The other Indians' struggles underline how thin the margin is between India's top women golfers and the tour's upper tier — Pranavi is the clear outlier, and Morocco could be her defining week.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Pranavi Urs perform in Round 1 of the Morocco Ladies Open?
Pranavi Urs shot a 3-under 70 to finish tied second after Round 1 of the Morocco Ladies Open in Rabat on 22 May. She sits two shots behind overnight leader Kelsey Bennett of Australia.
Who is leading the Morocco Ladies Open after Round 1?
Australia's Kelsey Bennett leads after Round 1 with a 5-under 68, mixing seven birdies with two bogeys. She holds a two-shot advantage over a ten-player group tied for second, including Pranavi Urs.
How did the other Indian golfers fare in Round 1?
Avani Prashanth and Diksha Dagar both carded 2-over 75 to be tied 61st, while Hitaashee Bakshi shot 5-over 78 to sit tied 99th. All three struggled with bogeys early in their rounds.
What makes Pranavi Urs a notable figure in Indian golf?
Pranavi Urs became the first Indian woman professional to win a mixed professional event when she claimed the IGPL Invitational Mumbai against male professionals. She has also recorded a top-10 finish at the Hero Women's Indian Open and continues to rise on the Ladies European Tour.
What does Pranavi Urs need to do to win the Morocco Ladies Open?
Pranavi needs to close the two-shot gap on leader Kelsey Bennett over the remaining rounds, maintaining her birdie momentum while limiting bogeys. With ten players tied for second, the leaderboard is tightly packed and a strong second round could move her into contention.
