Feisty Avani takes big lead

Bengaluru: Defending champion Avani Prashanth shot a flawless five-under 67 to open up a huge six-shot lead in Category ‘A’ (15-17 years) after the second round of the season-ending IGU all-India junior boys and girls golf championships at the KGA here on Thursday.The in-form 16-year-old took her two-day total to seven-under 137. Fellow Karnataka golfer Anvitha Narender, who shot a one-under 71, was second with an aggregate of one-under 143. Unlike the opening day, Avani was solid from the get-go. She holed a five-footer for a birdie on the first hole and then sank a 25-foot curler (right to left) on the fourth for her second birdie. After the turn, she picked up shots on the 10th (10-footer), 14th (7-footer) and the par-3 15th (10-footer) for her 67. Avani, who took 30 putts for the round, three birdie chances – all in the region of six feet – on the eighth, 11th and 12th holes.In the boys’ event, Aarav D Shah (73) stayed ahead of the field after 54 holes in Category ‘A’. Arjun Singh Bhatia, the Merit List leader, shot a three-under 69 to stay three shots behind.Leading scores: Boys (after 54 holes unless mentioned): Category ‘A’ (15-17 years): 213: Aarav D Shah (70, 70, 73); 216: Arjun Singh Bhatia (75, 72, 69), Anshul Mishra (74, 70, 72); 221: Veer Ganapathy (74, 74, 73). Category ‘B’ (13-14): 216: Anshul Mishra (74, 70, 72); 226: Manoj S (71, 79, 76); 228: Kanav Chauhan (76, 75, 77).Category ‘C’ (11-12, after 36 holes): 139: Kartik Singh (67, 72); 144: Harjai Milkha Singh (73, 71); 147: Ayan Ahmed (75, 72).Girls (after 36 holes): Category ‘A’: 137: Avani Prashanth (70, 67); 143: Anvitha Narender (72, 71); 144: Mannat Brar (73, 71); 145: Rashmi S (74, 71). Category ‘B’: 151: Keerthana Rajeev (78, 73); 153: Saanvi Somu (77, 76); 154: Mahreen Bhatia (81, 73). Category ‘C’: 151: Guntas Kaur Sandhu (77, 74); 164: Kriti Parekh (81, 83); 166: Aahana Kashyap (89, 77).
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