Hero Women's Indian Open 2024: De Roey, Hewson Share Lead in Gurugram; Hitaashee, Mannat Among Top Indians

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Gurugram, Oct 26: Belgium's Manon De Roey and England's Alice Hewson emerged as joint leaders at 3-under-par 213 after the third round of the 16th Hero Women's Indian Open on Saturday (October 26).

Competing at the DLF Golf and Country Club, the duo handled the challenging course with poise, setting up an exciting finale on Sunday for the $400,000 event, the only Ladies European Tour (LET) tournament in South Asia.

De Roey's Stunning 65 Takes Her to the Top

De Roey, currently second on the LET's Order of Merit, shot a scintillating 7-under 65 to jump from tied 16th to a share of first place. She was one of two players to tame the tough DLF course on Moving Day, alongside Austria's Emma Spitz, who also carded a 65.

Reflecting on her round, De Roey said, "Today was very good. I created a lot of birdie chances, hit it close, and made some putts-something I hadn't done over the first two days. It was a very solid round."

The 32-year-old Belgian has already tasted success this season with a win at the Investec SA Open. Eager to replicate that performance on Sunday, she added, "I'll stick to my game plan. There's still a lot of golf to be played, and I'm excited for tomorrow."

Hewson Keeps Calm with Steady Performance

Co-leader Alice Hewson, 27, carded a composed 1-under 71 to stay in the hunt for her second title of the year, following her victory at the VP Bank Swiss Open. Hewson's round was a mix of two birdies and two bogeys, but she managed to stabilize and maintain focus for a strong finish.

"My round was solid today. I had a quick start but gave away a couple of bogeys. After that, it was about managing the course well, especially with the wind picking up," Hewson said. "For tomorrow, it's about having fun and taking it shot by shot."

Liz Young Climbs the Leaderboard Despite Late Stumbles

England's Liz Young (74-74-67) made a big move, shooting 5-under through 15 holes before dropping a shot on each of the last three. She sits in sole third place at 2-under 214, just one stroke behind the leaders. Young's charge up the leaderboard moved her from tied 12th to third, setting her up as a serious contender heading into the final round.

Emma Spitz's eagle on the par-4 17th highlighted her impressive round, helping her climb from tied 35th to fourth, just three shots off the lead.

Hitaashee Bakshi and Mannat Brar Lead Indian Charge

On a day when most of the Indian players struggled, Hitaashee Bakshi emerged as the top-placed Indian with a 5-over total of 221. Bakshi, who plays out of the DLF Golf and Country Club, shot a 1-over 73 to finish the day tied for 15th.

Trailing her by a stroke, 17-year-old amateur Mannat Brar (76-75-71) produced the only sub-par round among the Indians, with four birdies and three bogeys to finish 1-under 71. Brar's promising performance continued her fine form this year, following her historic run to the semi-finals of the R&A Girls Amateur Championship.

Pranavi Urs, who was in a strong position at tied seventh after 36 holes, slipped to tied 21st following a 77 that included a triple bogey and a double bogey. Ridhima Dilawari also struggled, falling from tied 12th to tied 35th after a 7-over 79.

Other Notable Indian Performances on Day 3

• Tvesa Malik (T-35th) - 79
• Vani Kapoor (T-41st) - 75
• Ananya Garg (T-48th) - 75
• Janneya Dasannjee (T-51st) - 76
• Diksha Dagar (T-55th) - 80

Exciting Final Round Awaits at DLF Golf & Country Club

With De Roey and Hewson tied at the top, and several players within striking distance, the stage is set for a thrilling final day. The DLF course has proven to be a stern test for the field, with only three players managing to stay under par through 54 holes.

All eyes will also be on India's Hitaashee Bakshi and Mannat Brar, as they aim for strong finishes on home soil. Can De Roey and Hewson maintain their composure under pressure, or will Liz Young and Emma Spitz launch a final-round assault?

The Hero Women's Indian Open 2024 promises a grand conclusion on Sunday (October 27), with the leaders bracing for a tough challenge on the DLF greens.