Sunit Chowrasia (second from right) receives his cheque and trophy from (left to right) Prabhash Thakur, Director, Championship, DP World PGTI, Vinit Mahata, Director, PowerGilt Treasuries, Lucknow GC captain R.S. Nanda, Suhas L.Y., Secretary Sports – Government of UP, and LGC secretary Rajneesh Sethi. Image courtesy DP World PGTI.
By Rahul Banerji
Sunit Chowrasia of Kolkata carved out a three-shot victory at the inaugural Rs 25 lakh NexGen Vijay Kumar Memorial at the Lucknow Golf Club on Thursday.
Sunit (70-62-69) entered the final day with a two-shot advantage and closed the week on 9 under par 201, the DP World PGTI said.
The victory marked the second title of the season for the 31-year-old and his second consecutive win on the DP World PGTI NexGen after the Alpha Sports Academy Golf Championship hosted by Patna Golf Club in March.
Starting from the par-4 first hole in the shotgun format, Chowrasia opened with a bogey but regained control with a brace of birdies.
In a roller-coaster final round that featured five birdies and four bogeys, the winner managed to stay ahead of the chasing pack and seal the title.
Reflecting on the result, Chowrasia said, “It feels amazing to win back-to-back tournaments. It was a little nervy out there today, especially on the back nine, but in the end, it was worth every shot. I’m really happy to get another win and continue the momentum.
Staying patient
“The start wasn’t ideal, but I stayed patient and recovered well. There were a few momentum swings during the round, but I managed to make some important up-and-downs and stay focused under pressure.”
The win was worth Rs 3,17,875 and propelled him from sixth to the top of the DP World PGTI NexGen Order of Merit with season earnings of Rs 6,86,518 from four starts.
Speaking about the climbs, Chowrasia said, “I honestly wasn’t aware that I had moved to the top of the rankings.
“It’s nice to hear that, but there is still one more tournament left and my focus remains on continuing to play good golf and taking it one event at a time.”
The win also marked another milestone in his recovery from injury.
“Coming back from injury has been a long journey. When I look at where I was three years ago and where I am today, it’s a completely different situation and mindset.
“I’m grateful to be healthy again, competing well and seeing the hard work pay off,” he said.
Supportive role
Sunit also revealed that one of the first calls after his victory was with his famous uncle, an Olympian and six-time international winner, who has played a key role in supporting him through his career.
“I spoke to my uncle S.S.P. Chawrasia shortly after the round and he was very happy for me. He’s currently playing in Morocco and took time out to congratulate me.
“He has always been a great source of support, especially during the difficult periods when I was dealing with injuries. It means a lot to have his encouragement and to be able to share this win with him.”
Forty-one-year-old Pawan Kumar of Delhi (67-68-69) also returned a one-under 69 to climb from overnight third to finish runner-up on 6 under 204. With earnings of Rs 2,67,875, Kumar is now 10th on the Order of Merit.
Lucknow’s Rajesh Kumar Gautam (68-69-68) secured sole third place on 5 under 205.
Close battle
The 37-year-old local professional collected Rs 1,70,375 and is now second on the money list with earnings of Rs 6,81,060.
He trails Chowrasia by just Rs 5,458, setting up a fascinating battle for the top spot heading into the final event of the season.
Delhi’s Ajay Baisoya (68-70-68) registered his best result of the season, finishing fourth on 4 under 206 in only his second appearance of the year.
Another Delhi golfer, Wasim Khan (71-68-68), finished fifth at three-under 207.
The winner of the 2026 DP World PGTI NexGen Order of Merit will earn exemption to the main tour for the 2027 season.
The tour now moves to Varanasi for the inaugural Rs 25 lakh NexGen – Varanasi 2026 from June 16 to 18.
Also read: Chowrasia leads by two at NexGen Vijay Kumar Memorial
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