November 14th 2011, Panchkula, Haryana: Joint leaders Sharmila Nicollet and Saaniya Sharma gave away one triple bogey each but still held a share of the lead on what was otherwise a fairly good day at work for the duo in the eighth leg of the Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour.

Sharmila Nicollet

Sharmila paid the penalty of one disastrous hole, the tenth, where she gave away a triple bogey while Saaniya Sharma dropped a triple on the 18th at the Panchkula Golf Club.

Sharmila, who took over the lead in the Hero Women’s Order of Merit with her win last week, is looking for a third win on the trot. She seemed to be going fine with four birdies on the front nine a stretch of three-under 34. But the back nine, she gave away a triple on tenth. She then had two birdies and two bogeys, including one on the 18th and last. So with a three-over for back stretch she was even par 73 for the day.

Saaniya had two birdies and two bogeys on front nine and then she had a birdie and an eagle two on par-4 16th. Just as she looked like taking the lead, she had a triple on the last hole.

Nalini Singh (Siwach) was lying third with 75, while Neha Tripathi was fourth with a card of 76. Preetinder Kaur (79) was fifth. Seasoned Smriti Mehra, second on the Money list had a tough day with a card of 80 and she was tied for sixth with Vandana Aggarwal.

Sharmila will have a chance to increase that lead over Smriti in case she wins the eighth leg.

This is the eighth leg of the 15-event Hero Women’s professional Golf Tour.