Indian sports wrap, August 1: Good start for Diksha Dagar at Women’s Open in Wales

GOLF

Indian golfer Diksha Dagar carded a one-under 71 to lie tied 30th after the first round of the Women’s Open, the last Major of the year for women.

Diksha, making her sixth appearance at the Women’s Open, picked up four birdies against three bogeys in unpredictable weather conditions here.

She was lying Tied-30th after being Tied-14th till the 15th hole. She picked birdies on the first, seventh, ninth and 11th and the bogeys came on the sixth, eighth and 11th.

Diksha, who is the sole Indian in the field this week at Porthcawl, finished Tied-21st in 2023, her best performance at the Open.

Pranavi Urs played the qualifiers but failed to make the main event after shooting 75 in the one-round final qualifier at the Par-71 Pyle and Kenfig course three days ago.

Japan’s Eri Okayama and Rio Takeda shared the lead in the opening round with both carding an impressive five-under-par 67 at Royal Porthcawl.

-PTI

Saptak Talwar has strong start in Scotland

India’s Saptak Talwar produced a solid five-under 66 to make a good start at the Farmfoods Scottish Challenge here.

Talwar, who won his maiden Indian Tour title this season, picked up five birdies in a bogey-free round to lie T8 alongside five other players.

Starting on the back nine, Talwar made birdies on the 12th, 15th, and 17th holes before moving onto the front nine, where he made birdies on the second and fifth holes.

The leader at the end of the first round was Will Enefer, who set a new course record with a stunning 10-under 61. Three players — Quim Vidal, Daniel Young and Marc Hammer — shot 7-under 64 each to be tied second.

-PTI

Vedika lies second in US Kids World Championship, Ojaswini is ninth

Indian golfers Vedika Bhansali and Ojaswini Saraswat made promising starts to find a place in the top-10 after the opening day of the US Kids World Championship golf at Pinehurst Village here.

Bengaluru’s Vedika with a bogey-free 3-under 33 was tied-second with five others and was one shot behind the leader, Audrey Zhang of the US.

Ojaswini from Mohali, a former medallist at the US Kids World Championship, was Tied-ninth in Girls 12 after a card of 2-under. She was runner-up in Girls 11 a year ago and is looking at going one better.

Vedika, who was fourth a year ago in Girls 8 category, had three birdies and Ojaswini, runner-up last year in Girls 11, had three birdies and dropped her only shot on the 18th at the Longleaf club.

Chandigarh golfer Nihal Cheema, who was runner-up on Boys 7 in 2024, had just one birdie against two bogeys in his nine-hole round at Mid Pines (Black).

Cheema, playing in Boys 8 Category this year, was placed Tied-12th.

-PTI