Sunit Chowrasia, Mukeem Ali, and Dipankar Kaushal Lead at PGTI NexGen in Varanasi

First Round Highlights from PGTI NexGen

In Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, three golfers—Sunit Chowrasia from Kolkata, Mukeem Ali from Mathura, and Dipankar Kaushal from Noida—each recorded impressive rounds of three-under 67, sharing the lead after the first round of the inaugural PGTI NexGen tournament at the BLW Greens Golf Course.

Sunit, who currently tops the PGTI NexGen Order of Merit, arrived in Varanasi following consecutive wins at the Alpha Sports Academy Golf Championship in Patna and the Vijay Kumar Memorial in Lucknow. His round included seven birdies, two bogeys, and a double bogey on the par-4 10th hole.

Reflecting on his performance, Sunit expressed satisfaction with his position, stating, "It feels great to be tied for the lead. I started strong, but the double bogey on the 10th slowed my momentum. I remained patient and focused on my strategy, which helped me recover well."

Facing hot and humid conditions in the afternoon, he noted the importance of hydration and energy management. "Every course presents unique challenges, and here, keeping the ball in play off the tee is crucial," he added.

Mukeem Ali, who began his round from the par-4 fifth hole, also finished with a three-under 67. His performance featured five birdies and two bogeys, including a remarkable streak of three consecutive birdies from the 16th to the 18th holes.

Discussing his game, Mukeem remarked, "My putting was excellent today, which made a significant difference. My overall performance was solid, and it’s always a pleasure when the putter is working well."

Dipankar Kaushal, starting from the par-3 eighth, had a round that included an eagle on the par-5 18th, four birdies, one bogey, and a double bogey on the par-4 12th. Despite some setbacks, he was pleased with his ball-striking, stating, "I hit the ball well and found 17 greens in regulation. The double bogey was unfortunate, but I bounced back with an eagle and created opportunities throughout the day."

He also praised the course conditions, saying, "I was pleasantly surprised by how well the course is maintained, especially given the weather. My strategy for the rest of the week is straightforward—hit fairways and greens and capitalize on chances."

In the standings, Delhi's Pawan Verma and Gurugram's Nikhil Sharma are tied for fourth at two-under 68, while Kolkata's Pratim Kumar, Souvik Nayak, and local favorite Hemant Yadav from Varanasi are tied for sixth at one-under 69.

The opening day proved challenging for many, with only 11 out of 72 players achieving rounds of even-par 70 or better. Imamul Haq, another professional from Varanasi, finished with a score of 73, placing him tied for 26th. The winner of this year's NexGen Order of Merit will secure an exemption for the main tour (DP World PGTI) for the 2027 season.