Chiara Tamburlini's aggressive start puts her atop Women's Indian Open

Chiara Tamburlini surged to the top of the leaderboard at the Hero Women’s Indian Open at DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurugram on Thursday after an aggressive opening round. She fired a five-under 67 to finish one stroke clear of Shannon Tan and Magdalena Simmermacher.

Shannon Tan, defending champion, favoured consistency and produced a bogey-free opening round to share second place. The course, described as tricky and one that has tested the best over the years, left several players scrambling and saw Pranavi Urs and Avani Prashanth among a five-way tie for fifth on two-under 70.

Tamburlini racked up seven birdies and dropped shots at the seventh and 15th holes; she began by picking up strokes on three of the first four holes and added birdies on the ninth and 10th before suffering two bogeys. Her 67 left her one stroke ahead of Shannon Tan and Argentine Magdalena Simmermacher, who both carded 68.

Tan was the only player to avoid a dropped shot, converting four birdies — two on the front nine and two on the back — while playing a cautious game. The Singaporean later said: “I hit it pretty well off the tee and in regulation. I actually missed a few shots out there, like the putts that didn’t drop. But overall, I’m bogey-free, and I will take that any day, especially on this course.”

Pranavi Urs and Avani Prashanth led the Indian contingent and were part of a five-way tie for fifth place at two-under 70. Pranavi’s round was described as sedate and she struggled at times to keep the ball in play, with a bad stomach not helping matters.

Top scores: 67: Chiara Tamburlini (Sui); 68: Shannon Tan (Sin), Magdalena Simmermacher (Arg); 69: Sara Kouskova (Cze); 70: Pranavi Urs, Lois Lau (Fra), Avani Prashanth, Eleanor Givens (Eng).

After the opening round at the Hero Women’s Indian Open, Tamburlini sits one stroke clear of Tan and Simmermacher.