The Hero Women's Indian Open witnessed a spectacular display of local talent on September 9 as Hitaashee Bakshi, a Gurugram native, produced a flawless bogey-free round to take the sole lead. The 21-year-old, playing on her home course at the DLF Golf and Country Club, carded a magnificent 5-under 67 on the second day of the $500,000 Ladies European Tour event. Her cumulative score now stands at 7-under, marking the first time Hitaashee has led a Ladies European Tour tournament.
Her exceptional performance in the morning tee-off reflected her comfort and familiarity with the challenging course layout. Starting on the front nine, Hitaashee built early momentum with birdies on the fourth, seventh, and eighth holes. She maintained her rhythm on the back nine, adding two more birdies on the 12th and 13th before navigating the tricky closing stretch with composure.
"I am feeling good; this is my home course," Hitaashee said after her round, expressing her satisfaction with her play. "My expectations are where they should be, and I'm really happy with that."
She explained that the early tee time suited her routine, as she usually plays at that hour at the club. This, she said, made the day feel like “a normal round of golf” despite the high stakes. Her round featured moments of both luck and brilliance, including “a great putt on 16” and an equally strong finish on 18 that “got her heart rate up a little.” Hitaashee added that she is enjoying every shot and moment, taking it as it comes.
Hitaashee, the 2024 WGAI Order of Merit winner, is closely followed by an impressive mix of international and domestic players. Teenage amateur Zara Anand and Germany’s Verena Gimmy are tied for second at 6-under, just one stroke behind Hitaashee. Zara’s steady two-under 70 on Friday kept her firmly in contention.
Another Indian star, Pranavi Urs, also delivered an outstanding 5-under 67, matching Hitaashee’s round of the day. Pranavi’s powerful back-nine surge helped her climb 42 places on the leaderboard to tie for fourth with Switzerland’s Chiara Tamburlini at 5-under par. Returning from a wrist injury and a recent top-five finish in France, Pranavi showed great resilience, recovering from an early bogey after finding the rough.
It has been a strong week for Indian golf overall, with 12 home players making the cut — a sign of the sport’s growing depth in the country. With the tournament wide open and home advantage clearly in play, Hitaashee Bakshi and her fellow Indian contenders are well-positioned to make a serious bid for the title. The stage is set for an exciting weekend of golf at the DLF Golf and Country Club as Hitaashee aims to turn her halfway lead into a historic victory.
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