Aman Raj once again proved why the Ram Bagh Golf Club remains his happy hunting ground, carding a sensational 9-under 61 to take the first-round lead at the IGPL Invitational Jaipur on Thursday.
The Patna-born golfer, a regular on the Asian Tour and multiple-time Indian Tour winner, produced a near-flawless round at the Par-70 course, rekindling memories of his past triumphs in the Pink City. Raj, who has twice lifted the trophy in Jaipur in 2018 and 2023 carried his fine local record into another commanding display, leading by one shot over Shat Mishra (62) and two ahead of youngster Kartik Singh (63).
It was a day made for low scoring, with 29 players finishing under par and another eight carding even-par rounds. Harendra Gupta followed close behind with a 6-under 64, while Udayan Mane, making his IGPL debut, shot a 5-under 65 to share fifth with Samarth Dwivedi, Trishul Chinnappa, and Sachin Baisoya. Among the women, Lavanya Jadon led the pack with a tidy 2-under 68, good enough for a share of 16th, while Ananya Garg was next best at 1-under 69 and tied 23rd. Both showcased consistency, with Lavanya mixing four birdies and two bogeys, while Ananya carded three birdies against two dropped shots.
Aman Raj began his round on the third hole in the shotgun start format used by the IGPL Tour, and his day didn’t start ideally opening with a bogey. But the 30-year-old quickly shifted gears, repairing the early damage with birdies on the fourth and fifth holes to regain momentum. After a par on the sixth, Raj found his rhythm, stringing together birdies on the seventh and eighth to reach 3-under. From there, he never looked back.
His back nine was vintage Aman calm, calculated, and ruthless in execution. Birdies on the 12th and then three in succession from the 14th to 16th showcased his command over the course. He added another birdie on the 18th, and yet another on the first his 17th hole of the day to close out a round that included 10 birdies and just one bogey.
In terms of the traditional layout, Raj carded five birdies and one bogey on the front nine, followed by five birdies on the back nine, highlighting the consistency that has long been his hallmark at Ram Bagh.
“Jaipur has always been special for me” Speaking after his round, a visibly delighted Aman Raj said he felt at home in Jaipur a city that has given him some of his finest career moments.
“Jaipur has always been special for me as I won my first professional tournament here and then one more after five years,” he said. “I was in contention for the Order of Merit that year, so the second win was also quite special since it helped me get closer to the top ranking.”
On his course management, he added: “My course planning and feel on the greens are quite similar to those years. Even though I started with a bogey, I stayed calm and made a birdie on the next hole — and then nine more after that. Once I got into rhythm, everything just clicked.”
The round also reflected his recovery journey over the past few months following injury setbacks.
“The first four months of the year were tough,” he admitted. “After a lot of physiotherapy and rehab, it’s slowly coming back on track. The best feeling is to have that confidence again and play with the same energy on the course. There are still days when my shoulder doesn’t feel perfect, but I’ve learned how to manage those rounds better.”
He signed off on a positive note:
“All in all, it’s a good start to the week after quite some time. Hopefully, I can keep this momentum going.”
Hot on Aman’s heels is 20-year-old Shat Mishra, who fired a bogey-free 8-under 62 to sit alone in second place. In his first year as a professional, Mishra’s round reflected both maturity and fearless shot-making.
Starting on the 13th, the youngster who had a decorated amateur career picked up early birdies on the 14th, 15th, and 17th. He maintained steady momentum, adding more birdies on the third, sixth, seventh, ninth, and 11th holes. Remarkably, Mishra didn’t drop a single shot all day, a sign that his transition to the pro circuit is off to a confident start.
Another name making waves on the fledgling IGPL Tour is Kartik Singh, who continued his string of top-10 finishes with a composed 7-under 63. Starting alongside Aman Raj from the third hole, Kartik also began with a bogey but quickly recovered with birdies on the fourth, fifth, eighth, and ninth holes. After a string of pars between the 10th and 13th, the teenager surged again, adding birdies on the 14th and 16th before closing with a spectacular eagle on the Par-5 17th.
With three consecutive top-10s already this season, the youngster once again underlined his potential to break through for a maiden IGPL title.
On a day where conditions were ideal for scoring, several veterans also made their mark. Harendra Gupta, who credited the IGPL for helping him reach new personal goals, shot a 6-under 64 with seven birdies against one bogey. Olympian Udayan Mane, making his debut on the IGPL Tour, recovered brilliantly from early bogeys on the 13th and 14th with a birdie on the 17th and an eagle on the 18th. He added four more birdies en route to a 5-under 65, sharing fifth place with Samarth Dwivedi, Trishul Chinnappa, and Sachin Baisoya the latter carding a bogey-free round.
Young Veer Ganapathy also impressed with a solid 4-under 66, featuring five birdies and a lone bogey.
Women and Amateurs Hold Their Own
Among the women professionals, Lavanya Jadon emerged as the best performer with her 2-under 68, while Ananya Garg’s 69 ensured both stayed well within the top 25. Three amateurs Rahul Ravi, Sukhman Singh, and Manoviraj Singh Shekhawat matched Ananya’s 69 to sit tied 23rd, making it a promising start for the non-pro contingent.
For Aman Raj, though, Thursday’s performance was a reaffirmation of his long-standing connection with Jaipur. His comfort on the Ram Bagh layout, a mix of strategic precision and creative shot-making, continues to bring out his best golf. With three consistent top-10 finishes already this season T6 in Chandigarh, T6 in Jaypee Greens, and T8 in Pune Raj’s 61 could mark the beginning of a turnaround in what’s been a season of patient rebuilding.
As the IGPL Invitational Jaipur moves into its next rounds, the storylines are rich a veteran rediscovering his touch, a rising generation of young pros pushing hard, and a course that continues to inspire remarkable golf.
Leaderboard after Round 1:
1.Aman Raj – 61 (-9)
2.Shat Mishra – 62 (-8)
3.Kartik Singh – 63 (-7)
4.Harendra Gupta – 64 (-6)
T5. Udayan Mane, Samarth Dwivedi, Trishul Chinnappa, Sachin Baisoya – 65 (-5)
Jaipur continues to be Aman Raj’s playground and if history is any indication, his 9-under opening salvo could well be the prelude to another memorable weekend in the Pink City.
