Abhishek Kumar, a 24-year-old from Panchkula, shot a flawless five-under 65 to take a two-shot lead after the first round of the inaugural Rs 25 lakh DP World PGTI NexGen Vijay Kumar Memorial at Lucknow Golf Club. Starting from the fifth hole in the shotgun format, Abhishek made five birdies without any dropped shots to secure the top position. He currently holds the fourth spot on the NexGen Order of Merit, following a victory at the DP World PGTI NexGen event in Faridabad earlier this year.
Reflecting on his bogey-free performance, Abhishek expressed the importance of maintaining a clean scorecard. He highlighted his accurate ball-striking, hitting 16 greens in regulation, and successfully saving par on the two greens he missed. Notably, a crucial par save on the sixth hole boosted his confidence during the round.
Abhishek aims to clinch the top spot on the NexGen Order of Merit, which guarantees a spot on the main tour for the 2027 season. His victory in Faridabad earlier has bolstered his confidence, and he is determined to continue his strong performance.
Pawan Kumar, a 41-year-old from Delhi, and local golfer Rishi Kumar are tied for the second position at three-under 67, trailing Abhishek by two shots. Pawan, a regular on the DP World PGTI since 2011, combined six birdies with three bogeys in his round. His best finish on the main tour dates back to a tied-sixth place at the Jaipur Open in 2017.
