Shaurya Bhattacharya Dominates Kolar Open with Impressive Five-Under 67

Shaurya Bhattacharya showcased an exceptional performance at the Kolar Open, scoring a five-under 67 to extend his lead to three strokes. Despite a slow start, he rallied with five consecutive birdies, demonstrating his skill and adaptability to challenging conditions. Mohd Azhar trails in second place, while other notable players also made their mark. The competition remains fierce as only a select few made the cut, setting the stage for an exciting weekend ahead. Read on for more details on the tournament's progress and player standings.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 20, 2026, 02:08 IST

Bhattacharya Extends Lead with Five-Under 67

Shaurya Bhattacharya delivered an impressive performance, scoring a five-under 67, which allowed him to increase his lead to three strokes, totaling nine-under 135, during the second day of the Kolar Open, held near Bengaluru.

The 23-year-old golfer from Delhi, who has won twice on the DP World PGTI and currently ranks 16th in the season standings, started the day with a narrow one-shot lead. He achieved six birdies while only recording one bogey, solidifying his top position on the leaderboard, as reported by PGTI.

Slow Start, Strong Finish

Beginning his round from the 10th tee, Bhattacharya faced a setback with a bogey on the par-four 12th hole, leaving him at one-over for the first seven holes. Despite this, he maintained confidence in his ball-striking abilities. "I had a slow start and was one-over through seven holes, but I knew I was hitting good shots," Bhattacharya remarked.

His perseverance paid off on the 17th hole, where a well-executed drive led to the first of five consecutive birdies. He continued this momentum through the 18th, first, second, and third holes, taking command of the tournament.

"I hit a great drive on the 17th and capitalized on the opportunity, which initiated my birdie streak," he explained. "I kept giving myself good chances on the following holes and managed to convert them." Bhattacharya added another birdie and finished without any further bogeys, following his opening round of 68 with the best score of the day.

Azhar Leads Chasing Pack

Mohd Azhar from Hyderabad, who started the day tied for fifth, moved up to second place with a score of six-under 138 after carding a four-under 68, which included six birdies and two bogeys.

Arjun Sharma from Greater Noida (69-72), Angad Cheema from Chandigarh (73-68), and Bangladesh's Badal Hossain (69-72) are tied for third place at three-under 141.

Adapting to Conditions

As the wind picked up during the second round, players had to manage their ball flight on the challenging 7,330-yard course. Bhattacharya noted that his ability to adjust to the changing conditions was crucial. "The conditions required me to create shots and control the ball's flight, especially when facing the wind," he stated. "I felt I handled that well, found plenty of fairways, and missed in the right areas."

Having finished as the runner-up to Kshitij Naveed Kaul by two strokes in last year's inaugural edition, Bhattacharya is again in a strong position as the weekend approaches. "I have fond memories of this course, even though I fell short last year," he added. "I'm in a good spot and eager for the final two rounds."

Other Noteworthy Performances and the Cut

Saptak Talwar, the current leader in the DP World PGTI Rankings, moved from tied 11th to tied ninth with a score of one-under 143 after rounds of 72 and 71.

Talwar was joined by Shubham Jaglan from Panipat (70-73), who dropped four places from tied fifth after a one-over 73. Jaglan arrived in Bengaluru after winning his first professional title at the Coal India Open in Kolkata last week.

Defending champion Kshitij Naveed Kaul (73-75) fell from tied 15th to tied 22nd at four-over 148.

Only 12 players from a field of 132 completed the first 36 holes at even par or better, highlighting the difficulty of the par-72 course. The cut was set at eight-over 152, allowing 51 players to progress to the final rounds.