Chennai (PTI): Lavery Kumar brought home a card of one-over 73 to stave off Neha Tripati's challenge and consolidate her lead after the penultimate round of the gold division of Madras Ladies Golf championship here on Thursday.

Lavery's sedate second round took her tally to 224, opening up a seven-shot lead over Neha, who carded four-over 76 to lie second with a total of 231.

An identical round of 76 had Delhi golfer Shruti Khanna (232) at the third place.

Lavery, who finished fourth in the star-studded British Open Junior championship last month, thus put herself in contention for a second career title and won the 'Stable Ford' prize today with 39 points.

In the Bronze Division -- decided on three rounds of 54 holes play -- Pune's Bela Phadke claimed the Open title with an aggregate of 321 while Chennai veteran Susie Kurien (324) finished runners-up.

In the Silver division, local challenger Premalatha went 92 but still hung on to her lead as her nearest opponent Arya Tikenekar (94) had it even worse.

Results (after 54 holes):

Gold Division: Open: 224-Lavery Kumar (Del-75-76-73), 231-Neha Tripati (Kol 80-75-76) and 232-Shruti Khanna (Del-77-79-76) and Handicap: 212-Lavery Kumar and 213-Akrit Singh (Del):

Silver Division: Open: 265-Premalatha (Che-87-86-92), 271-Arya Tikenekar (Pune-86-91-94) and 272-S.Lakshmi (Che-88-91-93) and Handicap: 218-S.Lakshmi and 220-Premalatha.

Juniors: Open: 224-Lavery Kumar, 216-Neha Tripati and 238-Shreya Ghei and Handicap: 212-Lavery Kumar and 216-Neha Tripati.