January 13th 2010, New Delhi: Braving the chilly winds at the picturesque Qutab Golf Course Lado Sarai in New Delhi, Sharmila Nicollet played consistent golf to take the lead with score of 74, 2 over par.

With a lone birdie on the par 5, 16th Hole, Sharmila made 14 pars to finish the first nine in 40 and the back nine one under par.

Ladies European Tour player Smriti Mehra returned a score of 77 to be lying 3 strokes behind Sharmila Nicollet.

Smriti Mehra from the rough

Smriti started well with a birdie but had a disastrous triple bogey on the par five where she struck trouble after her ball hit a tree and went into the water hazard. Smriti hit her tee shot six inches from the pin on the par three 13th Hole. Having pulled back a shot Smriti finished five over par for the day.

Sitting at third spot is Nalini Singh Siwach with a score of 78. Nalini had a series of bogeys between third and seventh hole. Nalini went out with a score of 44 and recovered with two birdies coming in to finish with a score of 34 one par.

Long hitting Pro Saaniya Sharma had to be content with a score of 79 as she missed several fairways with her driver. Tied at 79 is Bengluru based professional Nikki Ponappa who had three birdies on hole nos. 7, 11 & 16.



Leading scores:- 
Sharmila Nicollet – 74
Smriti Mehra – 77
Nalini Singh Siwach – 78
Nikki Ponappa – 79
Saaniya Sharma – 79