Chiara Tamburlini takes day 1 honours at Women's Indian Open; Shannon Tan, Pranavi Urs in hot pursuit
Switzerland's Chiara Tamburlini takes the early lead at the Women's Indian Open, with Shannon Tan and Pranavi Urs close behind.
The 18th edition of the Women's Indian Open kicked off with high drama and unexpected challenges at the DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurugram. Switzerland's Chiara Tamburlini emerged as the early pace-setter, securing the clubhouse lead after a strong late surge on the opening day.
Tamburlini Takes the Lead
Chiara Tamburlini finished Day One at 5-under 67, placing her at the top of the leaderboard. While the DLF course is notorious for unpredictable results, Tamburlini managed to navigate its complexities to claim the initial advantage.
The Battle for Second: Shannon Tan and Magdalena Simmermacher
Hot on her heels is the defending champion, Shannon Tan of Singapore. The 2025 Ladies European Tour (LET) Order of Merit champion showed nerves of steel, shooting a flawless 4-under 68. Tan is currently tied for second place with Argentina's Magdalena Simmermacher.
Simmermacher’s round was a lesson in resilience. Despite finding the water on the 18th with her third shot—a mistake that usually results in a bogey—she managed to save par. The 30-year-old, who is seeking her first major breakthrough on the LET, admitted to focusing on a shot-by-shot approach rather than the final result.
Indian Hope: Pranavi Urs Battles Through Illness
Among the Indian contingent, Asian Games gold medallist Pranavi Urs and Avani Prashanth are the top performers, both sitting at T-5, three shots off the lead.
Pranavi Urs finished with a two-under 70, but her score could have been significantly lower if not for a stomach bug that plagued her throughout the round. Urs noted that the ailment made the already challenging course even more difficult to navigate, but she credited her mental toughness for keeping her game together.
A Bond Beyond Competition
Beyond the scorecards, the day highlighted a touching friendship between Pranavi Urs and Shannon Tan. The two, who have known each other since their days as junior golfers over a decade ago, shared a supportive bond during their morning group play.
Reflecting on their rivalry at the Asian Games in Japan, where Urs won gold and Tan took bronze, Pranavi revealed the sportsmanship involved. Urs recalled that Tan had whispered to her during the final round in Japan, expressing a wish that Pranavi win if she herself could not. This mutual respect continues as they compete for the title in Gurugram.
Other Notable Performances
- Avani Prashanth: Also tied for 5th, Prashanth enjoyed a free-flowing round, providing a welcome contrast to a season previously hampered by injury and a bulge in her back.
- Tvesa Malik: The Hero MotoCorp brand ambassador finished at T-9 with a score of 71.
- Diksha Dagar: It was a tougher day for Dagar, who struggled to a five-over 77, leaving her at T-62.
The day's play was interrupted by darkness at 5:57 pm, with Sweden's Andrea Lignell still on the 18th fairway when play was halted.