Karandeep Kochhar from India showcased a remarkable performance, carding a 6-under 66 on the first day of the USD 500,000 IGPL Bharath Classic at the Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort. This places him in a tied second position, just one shot behind the leader, Thailand’s Runchanapong Youprayong, who scored a 7-under 65. Kochhar, a four-time winner in India, secured a breakthrough victory on the IGPL Tour last year at the IGPL Dubai hosted by Shiv Kapur.
Australia’s Will Florimo and Austria’s Nicklas Regner also share the second spot with Kochhar. Runchanapong, benefiting from his prior experience at the venue, took the lead in the IGPL Bharath Classic. Aryan Roopa Anand, another Indian contender, delivered a strong performance with a 4-under 68 despite facing two bogeys, showcasing his skills with six birdies, including a streak of three on the front nine.
Karandeep Kochhar, reflecting on his performance, expressed satisfaction with his overall play and highlighted improvements in his driving, iron shots, and putting. He acknowledged the challenges posed by the course conditions, particularly the windy stretch during the round. Kochhar looks forward to the upcoming rounds, praising the course conditions and expressing optimism for the tournament ahead.
Several other Indian players, including Shaurya Bhattacharya, Raghav Chugh, and Kartik Singh, delivered solid performances, each scoring 2-under 70 to secure the Tied-24th position. Notable names like Gaganjeet Bhullar and SSP Chawrasia faced a tough start, needing a strong second round to stay in contention for the weekend.
