Hitaashee led by one shot over Pranavi Urs, winner of the opening leg this season.

Winner of the third leg, Hitaashee had a brilliant front nine with five birdies against no bogeys followed by a no-frills back nine with nine straight pars. She birdied first, fifth, sixth, seventh and ninth.

Pranavi also had five birdies, but she also dropped a bogey on the Par-4 fourth, after which she birdied four times in the next five holes to turn in 3-under. On the back nine she had another birdie on the Par-5 14th hole.

Hitaashee and Pranavi were way ahead of the rest of the field as third placed Ridhima Dilawari was one-over 73 with one birdie against two bogeys, while Vani Kapoor, fresh from three good starts in South Africa, carded 2-over 74, as did Gaurika Bishnoi.

Amandeep Drall had a very eventful round with four birdies against seven bogeys in her 75 and she was Tied-sixth with Rhea Purvi Saravanan.

Four players Seher Atwal, Khushi Khanijau, Durga Nittur and amateur Jasmine Shekhar were Tied-eighth at 76.

Hitaashee’s sister, Jahanvi, who was the top professional in the second leg, struggled as she shot 5-over 77.