Mehar stays in hunt

Mehar, who kick-started her campaign with a four-under 68, struggled to piece together the same game, stumbling to a disappointing second-round three-over 75 for a total of 143 at the Karnataka Golf Association.

However, the 17-year-old’s title charge didn’t suffer any blip as her closest rival Vani Kapoor too matched her score for the day to trail by five shots and stay put in second place at 148.
Local lass Tvesa Malik, who was placed third overnight, too remained glued to her position after an erratic 77 as none of the golfers managed to break par.

Mehar stumbled to three bogeys -- fourth, seventh and ninth -- to take the turn at three-over. Mehar, however, stopped the rot with a birdie three on the 10th but a bogey on the par-5 14th took away her only moment of joy.

One of the title favourites Aditi Ashok again found the going tough, shooting a second consecutive 76. Aditi drained out six bogeys against two birdies.

Leading scores (after 36 holes): 143: Mehar Atwal (68, 75); 148: Vani Kapoor (73, 75); 151: Tvesa Malik (74, 77); 152: Gurbani Singh (78, 74), Aditi Ashok (76, 76); 155: Millie Saroha (76, 79); 156: Ridhima Dilawari (80, 76), Anisha Padukone (78, 78); 157: Raksha Phadke (75, 82); 160: Amrita Sarna (81, 79).