Veer Ganapathy Takes Two-Shot Lead at IGPL Invitational 2026
Ganapathy Secures a Two-Shot Advantage
Veer Ganapathy (67-69) delivered an impressive performance for the second consecutive day, establishing a two-shot lead after the second round of the IGPL Invitational 2026 in Mauritius, hosted by Leander Paes at the scenic Anahita Golf Course.
Sachin Baisoya (67-71), who was tied for the lead overnight, faltered on the final hole of the second round, allowing Ganapathy to take the lead and positioning him well for a potential title win, as noted in a press release.
The 18-year-old left-handed golfer from Bangalore, who scored 67 on the first day, was even par after the front nine but managed to secure three birdies on the back nine, including on the 16th and 18th holes, finishing with a score of 3-under 69 and a total of 8-under after 36 holes.
The Contenders Behind Ganapathy
Three other players are tied for third place at 3-under after two rounds: former two-time All India Amateur champion Aryan Roopa Anand (71-70), Ridhima Dilawari (69-72), and Milind Soni (69-72). None of the top five have previously won on the AM GREEN IGPL, but Aman Raj (73-69) and Kapil Kumar (74-68), both at 2-under and tied for sixth, have claimed victories in the 2025 season.
Team Rankings and Course Challenges
In the team standings, RVR Delhi has taken the lead with a total of 7-under from two players, while Phoenix Hyderabad trails by one shot, tied with Atri Mumbai.
The challenging conditions at Anahita have resulted in only four additional players finishing under par: WGAI pro Amandeep Drall (69-74), Udayan Mane (70-73), rookie Sukhman Singh (71-72), and Shaurya Binu (75-68), all at 1-under and tied for eighth. A total of 12 players are currently under par, highlighting the difficulty of the course due to windy conditions and demanding greens.
Established Players Lag Behind
Notable players outside the Top 10 include 2025 AM GREEN IGPL Rankings leader Pukhraj Gill (72-72), SSP Chawrasia (73-71), and Gaurav Ghei (74-70) at T-12; Shiv Kapur (70-73) at T-20; Karandeep Kochhar (73-73) at T-22; and Gaganjeet Bhullar (73-74) at T-29.
Local Star Pellegrin's Remarkable Comeback
Pierre Pellegrin, a 27-year-old local player who also competes on the Sunshine Tour in South Africa, made a stunning recovery after an initial round of 8-over 80. He rebounded with an impressive 8-under 64, moving up to T-12 at even par for the tournament, improving his position by 43 spots with a second round that was 16 shots better than his first.
Ganapathy Aims for His First Professional Win
With only one round remaining in this second event of the 2026 season, Ganapathy is just 18 holes away from achieving his first professional victory. Last season, he was a runner-up twice. Currently, he holds a three-shot lead.
Ganapathy remarked, "I have been putting well, and that worked for me again today, especially on the back nine. I have contended in the past, and I know the more I put myself in this position, the more chances I will have," he stated, having been recognized as the "Young Turk" of the 2025 AM GREEN IGPL season.
Baisoya Seeks His First AM GREEN IGPL Title
Baisoya, known for his consistency, is closely pursuing Ganapathy. His bogey on the closing hole was amplified by Ganapathy's birdie on the same hole. Baisoya has multiple Top 3 finishes from the previous season and ranked fourth in the 2025 AM GREEN IGPL Rankings. Although he has won four times as a professional in India, he is still in search of his first AM GREEN IGPL Tour victory. He understands that a two-shot lead can vanish quickly, so a strong and steady start is essential for him to contend for the trophy.
Anand's Costly Finish Sets Up a Tense Conclusion
At one point, Aryan Roopa Anand seemed poised to challenge Ganapathy, but a closing triple bogey on the difficult Par-5 18th hole dropped him from 5-under for the day to 2-under. He now holds a total of 3-under for the tournament and is tied for third place.
Milind Soni is aiming for his first Top-10 finish in the AM GREEN IGPL, while Ridhima is the leading female competitor in the field, as Amandeep Drall has fallen to tied-eighth. Given the challenging course and weather conditions, the final day promises to be thrilling, with mistakes likely to have significant consequences.