Mumbai, Feb 25 (IANS): Sharmila Nicollet returned to form taking one shot lead over Vani Kapoor and Ankita Tiwana to lead after Round 1 of the fourth leg of the Women’s Professional Golf Tour at the Bombay Presidency Golf Club (BPGC) here Tuesday.

Sharmila, the youngest Indian to qualify for the Ladies European Tour (LET), has been struggling with her form lately and didn’t get off to the best possible start. After a disappointing front nine, she made a strong recovery in the back nine to end at one over 71.

Sharmila started with a bogey and had two more on the third and 12th holes along with a double bogey on the fourth. However, she recovered with birdies on the second, 11th, 16th and 18th.

In-form Vani played a steady round returning with a two over 72 as she putted four birdies on the first, seventh, 16th and 18th holes. Four bogeys on the fourth, sixth, 12th and 14th holes and a double bogey on the 11th meant she had to settle for tied second along with Ankita.

Ankita also had a good outing, carding two birdies on the second and fifth holes along with a couple of bogeys on the 13th and 16th and also a double bogey on the ninth hole.

Shweta Galande and Saaniya Sharma are tied fourth with identical scores of four over 74. Winner of the last leg and veteran Smriti Mehra ended at tied sixth with Meghna Bal, both returning with scores of five over 75. Neha Tripathi and Priya Puri are tied eight with scores of six over 76.

The Rs.5 lakh event is the fourth in the series of 14 this year.