Teen sensation Zara takes charge with two-shot lead

Bengaluru: Amateur golfer Zara Anand spearheaded the youth challenge with a brilliant start, carding a round that gave her a two-shot lead in the eighth leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour at Bangalore Golf Club. The 17-year-old from Noida, who is set to begin her collegiate golf journey in the United States later this year, placed herself firmly in contention for a maiden title on the professional circuit after finishing runner-up on multiple occasions in the past.

Zara added a 2-under 66 to her first round 4-under 64 at the Par-68 layout and at 6-under 130 for two days, she was two shots ahead of the first round co-leader Lavanya Jadon, another young promising star. Lavanya added even par 68 to her first round 64 and is now 4-under 132.

One shot further behind is yet another young star, Smriti Bhargav (65-68), who is tied third with the 24-year-old Durga Nittur (65-68).

Zara Anand played a very steady round as she parred the first three holes, then birdied the next three and again parred from the seventh to the ninth. On the back nine she dropped her solitary shot on 12th and parred the rest of the stretch.

Zara has had three second place finishes in the last two seasons and one of them in 2025 was at the same venue in the eighth leg. She was also second at the 13th leg in 2025 and in the second leg this year.

Lavanya Jadon is looking for her second win after having won in DLF Golf and Country Club last year when she pipped Zara at the post by winning a play-off.

Lavanya opened with a bogey, which she made up for on the very next hole. However, she dropped a shot again on the fifth and turned in 1-over. Two birdies on the back nine on the 10th and the 12th were followed by five pars and a bogey on the 18th for a day’s card of even par 68.

Smriti Bhargava had four birdies and four bogeys in her round, while Durga Nittur had three birdies and three bogeys on her card. Smriti may well have been a co-leader but she finished bogey-bogey.

Vidhatri Urs (69-65) and Anvvi Dahhiya (66-68) were tied fifth at 2-under 134, while Jasmine Shekar (68-67) and Mannat Brar (67-68) were tied for seventh place.

Amandeep Drall (72-64) played the day’s best round and jumped into Tied-ninth place alongside Ridhima Dilawari (69-67) at even par 136.

The cut fell at 7-over 143 and 35 players made the cut for the final round.

Prominent names missing the cut were Sneha Singh, Khushi Khanijau and Seher Atwal, while Vani Kapoor withdrew due to medical reasons.

Tags : Zara Anand, Golf, Women's Pro Golf Tour, Bengaluru, Lavanya Jadon