Hitaashee extends lead, five Indians in top 10 after Rd 3

Hitaashee Bakshi reeled off a third under-par score on her home course to retain sole lead going into the final day of the $500,000 Hero Women's Indian Open at the DLF Golf and Country Club here.

- Shantanu Srivastava

Her threeshot lead and consistency this week raises strong hopes of an Indian winning the national tournament for only the second time.

Home golfers continued to make an impression with five of them in the top-10 on Saturday.

The 21-year-old leader fired a two-under 70 to be nine-under for the tournament. Hitaashee held a three-shot lead over England's Alice Hewson, whose 3-under 69 took her six places up to solo second. Pranavi Urs, who followed her 67 on Friday with a 73, was solo third.

Hitaashee, fresh from a bogeyfree 67 on Friday, made three birdies each on the front and back nine on what she described as a "funny" day at work. That the greens played true did help, but Hitaashee's solid performance is largely down to her preparation and mental reserves. Almost every time she dropped a shot, the youngster found a birdie, ensuring that she maintained her lead.