Vani Kapoor Shines in Swiss Ladies Open with Shared Lead

Rotkreuz, Switzerland – India’s Vani Kapoor was among the four players sharing the lead at the end of the first round of the Swiss Ladies Open. Vani was tied with Kirsten Rudgeley, Caroline Hedwall, and Anne-Charlotte Mora, all scoring five-under-par.

Among other Indian golfers, Tvesa Malik Sandhu, who was tied third when she finished, ended the day tied ninth. Ridhima Dilawari and Amandeep Drall were tied 57th with a score of 1-over 72, while Seher Atwal was T-108 with a score of 77.

Aussie Kirsten Rudgeley, chasing her first Ladies European Tour (LET) win, started strong with a bogey-free 66 (-5) at Golfpark Holzhausern. Solheim Cup star Caroline Hedwall followed with six birdies and one bogey to match the score. In the afternoon, Vani Kapoor, starting on the 10th hole, made five birdies on her back-nine after going out level-par.

“It’s a big relief,” Vani said. “My game has been feeling good for quite some time, but I feel like everything wasn’t coming around. So it’s good to see some positives. I’m just trying to believe in myself a bit more. I think that’s helped. I was playing in Italy a couple of weeks ago and I had someone on my bag, he was a professional, and he said, ‘you have it in you.’ He said to believe and that’s what I did today.”

Anne-Charlotte Mora continued her excellent record at Golfpark Holzhausern, recovering well after opening with a double-bogey to post seven birdies.

Four players sit just behind in a tie for fifth on four-under-par. This group includes Spain’s Maria Hernandez, Morocco’s Maha Haddioui, Sweden’s Sofie Bringner, and Poland’s Dorota Zalewska. Twelve players share ninth place on three-under-par, including home favorite Kim Metraux, last week’s runner-up Rosie Davies, and Austria’s in-form Emma Spitz. Another home star, Joburg Ladies Open winner Chiara Tamburlini, is one shot further back on two-under-par.