SEPTA’s Umed Kumar made a strong professional debut at the fourth leg of the PGTI NexGen event to share the day one lead in Mohali on Wednesday. Image courtesy PGTI.
By Rahul Banerji
Pro debutant Umed Kumar went 3 under par 61 to share the opening round lead with Mari Muthu R. in the fourth leg of the PGTI NexGen season at Forest Hill Golf & Country Club in Mohali on Wednesday.
While Umed, a 24-year-old from Chandimandir’s SEPTA golf course, carded four birdies and a bogey, Bangalore’s Mari Muthu had six birdies against three bogeys, the PGTI said.
Mhow’s Sachin Chouhan was third on 1 under 63 while Kolkata’s Irfan Ali Mollah carded an level par 64 to be placed fourth.
The Forest Hill Golf & Country Club is a par-64 nine-hole course which is played twice to comprise a round.
Umed, a winner of two amateur titles including the Eastern India in 2023, made a dream start to his pro career thanks to an exceptional short-game.
He sank a couple of birdies from between 12 and 15 feet and also chipped-in for birdie on the fourth hole.
Good start
“I’m delighted to make a good start in my first-ever professional event,” Umed said later.
“This gives me a lot of confidence going ahead. I negotiated the windy conditions well and played some solid golf as I found all fairways and missed just three greens.
“I’m quite familiar with this golf course as I have playing rights here so that is an added advantage for me. I know where to land my approaches and which side I can afford to miss the greens, if at all.”
Bangalore’s Mari Muthu R. swapped six birdies for three bogeys to share the day one lead at Forest Hills. Image courtesy PGTI.
Mari Muthu was outstanding with his wedge shots and chipping as he landed it within five feet on four occasions to set up birdies.
Kolkata’s Khokan Molla made a hole-in-one on the 18th during his round of 78.
Opening doors
The tournament offers a prize purse of Rs 20 lakh and marks the return of men’s professional golf and the PGTI to Mohali after 11 years.
The leading 36 players and ties from a field of 72 will make the cut for the third and final round.
The PGTI NexGen Order of Merit is led by Rajesh Kumar Gautam of Lucknow with season’s earnings of Rs 4,29,600.
The winner of this year’s NexGex Order of Merit earns exemption on the main tour for the 2026 season.
Said PGTI chief executive Amandeep Johl ahead of the event,“We are excited to resume the NexGen season which has produced some fascinating finishes and three different winners so far.
“The competition in the Order of Merit race promises to get even more intense over the next two events. We thank Forest Hill Golf & Country Club for partnering with us in staging this event.”
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