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Diksha and Tvesa make cut in Australian Ladies Classic

Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, February 22: DIksha Dagar and Tvesa Malik braved the strong wind and rain to be the only two of the five Indian starters to make the cut at the Pacific Bay Resort Australian Ladies Classic – Bonville. Diksha (71-77) and Tvesa (75-74) are playing their first season in Australia.

Diksha, who turned pro only this year, is lying T-37th at four-over 148 while Tvesa, winner of the Hero Indian Order of Merit on the domestic front, is T-47th at five-over 149.

Amandeep Drall (80-76), Astha Madan (77-80) and Vani Kapoor (79-79) missed the cut, which fell at seven-over.

Nuria Iturrios from Spain holds a four shot lead midway through the event, which saw the second round being played in strong winds and rain.

Diksha had played superbly in the first round to be Tied-ninth with 71.In the second round she shot 77 that included six bogeys and one birdie, which that came on the 18th. Three times Diksha had back-to-back bogey on a tough day. Tvesa had one birdie on the second hole, and three bogeys.

Just nine players are in red figures for the tournament with Iturrios leading on eight-under-par in total. Overnight leader Doey Choi dropped to four-under and outright second with fellow Australian Hannah Green in third on three-under.

Sweden’s Madelene Sagstrom, Jenny Haglund and rookie Linnea Strom share fourth with Norwegian Marianne Skarpnord.

The players who went out early played through squally conditions with a fickle wind, which strengthened considerably for the afternoon wave.

Iturrios’ 67 was the best round of the day and she was only one of two players to break 70 along with Denmark’s Nicole Broch Larsen (69), lying in a share of 10th.