Sunit Chowrasia Takes Commanding Lead at PGTI NexGen Vijay Kumar Memorial

Sunit Chowrasia has surged to the top of the leaderboard at the PGTI NexGen Vijay Kumar Memorial after an impressive eight-under 62 in the second round. The Kolkata golfer, nephew of SSP Chawrasia, showcased his skills with eight birdies and no bogeys, moving from tied 13th to a two-shot lead. Abhishek Kumar, the overnight leader, slipped to second place, while Pawan Kumar and others remain in contention. The event honors Vijay Kumar, a supporter of young golfers, making it a significant tournament for participants. With the cut set at six-over 146, 39 players advance to the final round, with the winner earning a spot on the main tour for the next season.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 11, 2026, 14:08 IST

Chowrasia's Impressive Performance

Sunit Chowrasia, a 31-year-old golfer from Kolkata, delivered an outstanding performance with a bogey-free round of eight-under 62, propelling him to a two-shot lead after the second round of the inaugural PGTI NexGen Vijay Kumar Memorial at Lucknow Golf Club. With a total score of eight-under 132, Sunit, who is the nephew of renowned golfer SSP Chawrasia, improved his position from tied 13th to the top of the leaderboard, following an opening round of 70. His remarkable round featured eight birdies without any bogeys, marking the lowest score of the tournament so far.

Overnight leader Abhishek Kumar from Panchkula, who had a score of 65 in the first round, fell to second place with a total of six-under 134 after carding a one-under 69 in the second round.

Chowrasia's Journey to the Top

Chowrasia, who recently won the Alpha Sports Academy Golf Championship at Patna Golf Club, began his round from the par-4 ninth hole in a shotgun format. He secured three birdies on his first nine holes and continued his momentum on the second nine, adding five more birdies, including four consecutive ones from the third to the sixth hole.

Reflecting on his performance, Sunit stated, "I started steadily, reaching three-under on my first nine. The second nine was where I really gained momentum with four consecutive birdies. I maintained control of my shots, creating numerous opportunities and successfully converting them. My iron play was particularly strong, especially on the par-3s, allowing me to set up short putts for birdies."

Kumar's Resilience

Abhishek Kumar, 24, who previously won the season-opening NexGen event in Faridabad, currently ranks fourth in the Order of Merit. He acknowledged the importance of patience during a challenging round where he often had to recover from difficult positions.

He remarked, "The course tested my patience today. I faced tricky situations, particularly on the sixth hole where a tree obstructed my shot, but I managed to recover well and remained patient throughout the round." Looking forward to the final round, he added, "This event is significant as it honors Vijay Kumar, who always supported young players. Performing well here would mean a lot to me."

The Contenders Behind

Pawan Kumar, 41, from Delhi, followed up his opening round of 67 with a two-under 68, securing third place at five-under 135. Several players are in contention, including Bipin Mukhiya from Noida (70-67), who leads the NexGen Order of Merit, and Rajesh Kumar Gautam from Lucknow (68-69), currently third in the standings. Fifteen-year-old Arjunveer Shishir from Panchkula also shares fourth place at three-under 137.

Local player Rishi Kumar from Lucknow is tied for seventh at two-under 138.

Cut Line and Future Opportunities

The cut for the 36-hole event was set at six-over 146, with 39 out of 71 players advancing to the final round.

The champion of the 2026 DP World PGTI NexGen Order of Merit will receive an exemption for the main tour in the 2027 season.