Karandeep Kochhar Shines at IGPL Bharath Classic with Top-10 Finish
Kochhar's Stellar Performance
File image of Charlie Lindh(Photo: IANS)
El Jadida, June 8: Karandeep Kochhar from India showcased his talent on the Asian Tour, finishing strong with a bogey-free final round of 68 at the USD 500,000 IGPL Bharath Classic. His performance secured him a spot in the top 10, while Sweden's Charlie Lindh claimed victory with an impressive closing round.
Kochhar's rounds of 66, 73, 70, and 68 culminated in an 11-under-par total, placing him in a tie for ninth and marking his third top-10 finish this season. This result elevated him to 12th position in the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
The tournament, co-hosted by the Indian Golf Premier League and the Asian Tour, saw Lindh dominate with a remarkable eight-under 64, finishing at 18-under-par. After being the runner-up at the Kolon Korea Open previously, he capped off his week with an eagle on the 18th hole, securing a four-shot victory and moving up to third in the Order of Merit.
Kochhar's performance highlighted his growing consistency. The Chandigarh golfer, who previously won the IGPL Dubai event, excelled in hitting fairways and greens in regulation. However, he faced challenges on the greens, needing at least 28 putts per round, including 34 during his second round.
In his final round, Kochhar achieved a flawless scorecard, making birdies on the third, 10th, 11th, and 14th holes, finishing with a four-under-par score. Over the tournament, he recorded 16 birdies and remained competitive throughout.
At 28 years old, Kochhar, who also tied for fifth at the International Series Japan earlier this season, is now setting his sights on the upcoming USD 2 million International Series Morocco as he aims for his first Asian Tour title. His only professional win to date was on the Asian Development Tour in Egypt, which granted him full Asian Tour status.
Other notable Indian players included Gaganjeet Bhullar and Yashas Chandra, who both finished tied for 27th at six-under-par. Bhullar concluded with a 68, featuring five birdies and one bogey, while Chandra had a bogey-free round of 68.
Rashid Khan ended tied for 41st at three-under after a final round of 71, alongside Kartik Singh and Sachin Baisoya. Baisoya's closing 67 included two eagles on the par-five third and seventh holes, while Kartik had a mixed round with seven birdies, two bogeys, and two double bogeys.
Shaurya Bhattacharya finished tied for 52nd with a 71, Aman Raj was tied for 56th after a 70, and Pukhraj Singh Gill, Raghav Chugh, and Udayan Mane ended in the lower half of the leaderboard. Amateur Jai Bahl finished tied for 67th.
Lindh's final round was the highlight of the tournament, as he overcame a three-shot deficit. Starting the day behind Thailand's Settee Prakongvech, he surged ahead and finished with a memorable eagle on the 18th hole, rolling in a 20-foot putt from the fringe.
“It feels good…feels really good. I’m still focused, but once everything settles, I will realize what I have accomplished today. I have been playing well leading into this week and have been excited about my game lately,” Lindh expressed.
American Charles Porter briefly threatened to create a dramatic finish, tying for the lead after 17 holes at 16-under. However, a wayward second shot into a water hazard on the final hole resulted in a costly double bogey, leaving him tied for second with Settee at 14-under.
Thailand's Sarit Suwannarut shot a 66 to share fourth place with England's Sam Broadhurst, while American Marcus Plunkett joined Thailand's Poom Saksansin and Runchanapong Youprayong in a tie for sixth at 12-under.
Morocco's Ayoub Lguirati was the top local performer, finishing tied for 13th at nine-under-par.
The Asian Tour now moves to Rabat for the USD 2 million International Series Morocco, where Kochhar and other Indian players will aim to build on their strong performances from El Jadida.