Diksha Dagar Stays in Title Hunt as All Four Indians Make the Cut at Hulencourt Women's Open

Indian golfer Diksha Dagar remained firmly in contention for the title at the Hulencourt Women's Open despite a late stumble in the second round, while Aditi Ashok, Avani Prashanth, and Pranavi Urs also successfully made the cut, ensuring a perfect week so far for the Indian contingent on the Ladies European Tour (LET).

After sharing the overnight lead following a flawless opening-round 68, Diksha carded an even-par 72 on Friday to slip into a five-way tie for third at four-under-par. Although two late bogeys denied her the opportunity to remain at the top of the leaderboard, the two-time LET winner remains well placed heading into the final two rounds.

India's challenge received another boost with Aditi Ashok climbing into the top 10 on her return to the LET, while Avani Prashanth produced a spirited comeback to remain inside the top 20. Pranavi Urs also battled through a difficult second round to make the cut on the number.

Diksha entered the second round carrying momentum after an excellent bogey-free opening round that had placed her alongside the leaders. She looked set for another strong day after negotiating much of the course with confidence, mixing three birdies with just one bogey through the early stages of her round. However, two bogeys over the closing stretch halted her progress and prevented her from keeping pace with the tournament leader.

Despite the disappointing finish, her even-par 72 keeps her at four-under for the championship and firmly in the hunt for what would be the third Ladies European Tour title of her career. Diksha now shares third place with Switzerland's Morgane Metraux, South Africa's Nadia van der Westhuizen, England's Bronte Law, and Ireland's Anna Foster.

With 36 holes still to play, the leaderboard remains tightly packed, leaving the Indian left-hander well positioned to mount a weekend challenge.

One of the biggest positives for Indian golf came through Aditi Ashok, who marked her return to the Ladies European Tour with another composed performance. After opening with a two-under 70, Aditi followed it up with a one-under 71, moving to three-under overall and into a share of eighth place. The former Olympian delivered one of the steadiest rounds of the day.

She recorded 17 pars and just one birdie, avoiding costly mistakes that affected several players in the field. Although her round lacked multiple birdies, her consistency kept her comfortably inside the top 10 and within touching distance of the leaders.With her vast experience of contending in elite tournaments around the world, Aditi remains one of the strongest Indian hopes heading into the weekend.

Young Indian golfer Avani Prashanth also demonstrated remarkable resilience during her second round. Starting from the 10th tee, Avani endured a difficult opening stretch and found herself two-over-par through her first 11 holes. A double bogey on the par-four 16th threatened to derail her round. Instead of allowing the setback to affect her confidence, the Bengaluru golfer responded impressively.

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She birdied three of her final seven holes while conceding just one bogey, recovering strongly to sign for her second consecutive 72. That effort left her at even-par for the tournament and tied for 18th place, keeping her in contention for another solid finish on the Ladies European Tour. The ability to recover after a poor start reflects the growing maturity Avani has displayed throughout her rookie professional campaign.

It was a tougher day for Pranavi Urs, but the Mysuru golfer managed to extend her tournament by making the cut. After beginning the week with a one-over 73, Pranavi struggled to find momentum during her second round and carded a 76. She finished at five-over-par, exactly on the projected cut mark, squeezing into the weekend in a share of 56th place.

Although well behind the leaders, making the cut ensures another opportunity to gain valuable experience and improve her final position over the remaining two rounds.

At the top of the leaderboard, Spain's Carolina Chacarra produced the round of the tournament. A flawless seven-under 65 lifted the Spaniard to nine-under overall, giving her a two-shot lead heading into the weekend. Australia's Kelsey Bennett sits second at seven-under after an impressive 67, while the group at four-under including Diksha Dagar remains well within striking distance.

With several experienced players clustered near the top of the leaderboard, the championship is still wide open.

One of the most encouraging aspects of the tournament has been the collective performance of the Indian contingent. All four Indian players successfully progressed beyond the cut, highlighting the increasing depth of Indian women's golf on the international stage. Diksha Dagar remains in genuine contention for the title, Aditi Ashok has re-established herself among the leaders on her LET return, Avani Prashanth continues to impress with her consistency, and Pranavi Urs has earned two more competitive rounds despite a challenging second day.

With two rounds remaining, India has multiple storylines to follow.

Diksha will be aiming to convert her strong position into a third Ladies European Tour title, while Aditi will look to close the gap on the leaders with another trademark consistent performance. Avani, meanwhile, has an opportunity to continue climbing the leaderboard, and Pranavi will seek to finish the week on a positive note.

As the Hulencourt Women's Open enters its decisive weekend, Indian golf remains firmly in the spotlight, with all four players still in action and the possibility of another LET title very much alive.