The Superman belt fastened fast, Smriti Mehra took a measured look at the putt. A long wait at the tee was made shorter by her continuous chatter and right away, she showed the game was running well too, hitting to within two feet of the pin at the water-wrapped par-3 16th. Sadly, the great chance to get the round out of blue digits failed as the putt rolled away.

The one-over round at the DLF Women’s Indian Open today has meant the 36-year-old tumbled to the ninth spot from her overnight fifth — six off the lead — but she is still the best placed Indian.

Thai Phatlum Pornanong shared umbrellas and laughs with playing partner Lin Tzu-chi, and sits two shots pretty at the top going into the final day. The 18-year-old has been hitting perfectly over the two rounds, but the inconsistency in putting ensures the score keeps hitting troughs and crests. Onto the green in two huge hits and one-putting from ten feet, she eagled the 6th. There were five more birdies, but another five bogeys put the round’s score at two-under, and the aggregate four-under 140.

Scores: Phatlum Pornanong (THA) 140; Chun Wang (CHN) 142; Yuki Sakurai (JPN) 143; Shih Huei-ju (TPE), Jaya Lidya Ivana (INA) 144; Yun Jye Wei (TPE), Jenni Kuosa (FIN), Nontaya Srisawang (THA) 145; Smriti Mehra (IND) 146; Min Ji Nam (KOR), Chan Kuan-Pei (TPE), Hsien Yu-Ling (TPE), Pangjan Rungthiwa (THA) 147