Key Points

Hitaashee added a steady 1-over 73 to her opening 72, finishing on a 36-hole total of one-over-par that placed her tied for 36th. Pranavi carded back-to-back rounds of 73 to lie tied for 47th. While they progressed, several other Indian hopefuls fell agonisingly short.

Ridhima Dilawari (75-72) missed the cut by just one stroke, while Avani Prashanth (78-70), Diksha Dagar (73-75), Vani Kapoor (78-71) and Tvesa Malik (71-78) also exited after 36 holes. The cut came at two-over, with 61 players advancing.

Pranavi's round featured three birdies against two bogeys and a costly double bogey. Hitaashee also mixed two birdies with a bogey and a double. Both players will now look to build momentum ahead of their home event, the prestigious Hero Women's Indian Open, scheduled in less than three weeks.

At the top, 16-year-old Huang remained flawless as she followed her bogey-free opening round with another sparkling 66 (-6). Starting from the 10th, she birdied the 12th and 13th before picking up another at the 18th to turn in three-under. Her hot putter stayed alive on the front nine with birdies on the fourth, seventh, and ninth, giving her a commanding three-shot lead at 14-under-par.

France's Nastasia Nadaud produced a 67 (-5) to move into second place at 11-under, while Singapore's Shannon Tan is outright third on seven-under after a solid 68. Spain's Nuria Iturrioz, the 2023 inaugural champion at La Sella, fired a 66 highlighted by five straight birdies to climb into a share of fourth with Australia's Kirsten Rudgeley, who went bogey-free for her 67. Both sit at six-under.

A pack of four players, including Italy's Alessandra Fanali and Slovenia's Pia Babnik, are tied sixth at five under, while another group featuring Ireland's Lauren Walsh sits a stroke further back. With two rounds to play, Huang holds a strong advantage, but the chasing pack promises a competitive weekend at the La Sella Golf Resort.

- ANI