Udayan Mane Leads Day One at AM Green IGPL Invitational in South Africa

Udayan Mane made a remarkable start at the AM Green IGPL Invitational in South Africa, finishing the first day tied for the lead with a bogey-free round of 7-under 65. Milind Soni and Manav Shah also performed well, both carding 65s. The leaderboard is competitive, with several players closely trailing. In the team contest, Green Fuels Hyderabad leads with a total of 14-under. Notable performances include Sachin Baisoya and the top women, Vidhatri Urs and Vani Kapoor, both finishing at even par. The tournament continues to showcase exciting golf action.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 16, 2026, 15:24 IST

Strong Start for Udayan Mane

Olympian Udayan Mane kicked off his quest for a first victory at the AM Green IGPL Invitational in South Africa with an impressive bogey-free round, finishing the first day tied for the lead at 7-under 65.

He shares the top spot with two other competitors, while a group of six players trails closely, just two shots behind.

Notable Performances

Hyderabad's Milind Soni, who previously finished T-6 in Mauritius, also started strong with a 65. Indian American Manav Shah, a winner on the Latin America Tour, matched this score.

The leaderboard is competitive, with last year's AM Green IGPL Rankings champion Pukhraj Singh Gill at 66, sitting in fourth place. Gaganjeet Bhullar, Karandeep Kochhar, and Saarthak Chhibber are tied for fifth at 5-under 67.

Team Contest Overview

In the team standings, co-leaders Manav Shah and Milind Soni's 7-under rounds propelled Green Fuels Hyderabad to the top with a total of 14-under. Honer Gurugram, featuring Pukhraj Gill and Shat Mishra, follows in second at 9-under, while Krishna Punjab, supported by Kochhar and Harendra Gupta, holds third at 8-under.

Other Highlights and Women's Performance

Sachin Baisoya, who recently ended his title drought, secured eighth place with a score of 4-under 68, including an eagle on the ninth hole.

Seven players, including two locals, are tied for ninth at 3-under 69 at the Royal Johannesburg Golf Club's West Course. The Indian players include Raghav Chugh, Shat Mishra, Harendra Gupta, Ranjit Singh, and Kartik Sharma, while locals Allister de Kock and Musiwalo Nethunzwi also share this position.

The leading women after Day 1 are Vidhatri Urs and Vani Kapoor, both finishing with even par 72, each recording two birdies and two bogeys.

Detailed Performance of the Leaders

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Chasing Pack's Performance

Gill, preparing for the International Series event in Singapore next week, started strong with four birdies in the first six holes but cooled off slightly on the back nine, finishing with a 5-under 31.

Bhullar, a prominent figure in Indian golf, had a solid day with five birdies but missed several opportunities to join the leaders, turning in 4-under 32.

Kochhar began with four birdies in five holes but slowed down, finishing with a total of 5-under.

Last week's runner-up, Veer Ganapathy, shot 2-under 70, placing him T-16 after missing several birdie chances.

The AM Green IGPL South Africa marks the second leg of the three-event African Swing.