Continuing his brilliant run of form, Aman Raj carded a flawless nine-under 61 to take a commanding four-shot lead after the opening round of the IGPL Invitational Kolkata, hosted by SSP Chawrasia at the Tollygunge Golf Club.
On an overcast day interrupted briefly by a lightning delay, the 30-year-old from Patna now based in Gurgaon kept his composure to produce yet another stunning round. It was his third bogey-free 61 in his last four rounds, following twin 61s during his title-winning week at IGPL Jaipur.
Aman’s exceptional round put him well clear of Mysuru’s Aalaap IL, who shot a solid five-under 65 to occupy second place. Four golfers Syed Saqib Ahmed, Udayan Mane, Kartik Sharma, and Aditya Raj Kumar Chauhan were tied for third at four-under 66, while a cluster of seasoned names followed closely behind.
Aman’s Clinical Precision at Tollygunge
Fresh off his victory at IGPL Jaipur that ended a 22-month title drought, Aman continued to look in complete control. He began steadily before igniting his round with birdies on the 3rd, 6th, 7th, and 9th holes, making the turn at four-under. His back nine was even more impressive birdies on 10, 12, 13, 15, and 16 capped a blemish-free performance.
“I hit a lot of fairways and when I did miss, my iron play helped me reach the greens,” Aman explained after the round. “That gave me a lot of birdie chances and I converted most of them. My putting was excellent today; I holed everything inside eight to ten feet and even a few from further out.”
The round reflected not just technical precision but also mental resilience. Aman, who missed part of the 2024 season due to a shoulder injury, has been working through an intensive rehab program. “All parts of the game are coming together. It feels like the hard work and physio sessions are paying off,” he said. “The shoulder still feels sore at times, but I’m learning to manage it. Yesterday’s session was crucial I could barely swing but today felt great.”
If Aman maintains this form, he could emulate Gaganjeet Bhullar’s feat of winning the first two events of the IGPL season back-to-back.
While Aman stole the headlines, Aalaap IL produced one of his finest rounds of the season to sit second at five-under 65. Starting on the back nine, he collected three birdies and an eagle, avoiding any bogeys on the card. A consistent performer this season, Aalaap was among the top-10 finishers at the IGPL Pune event earlier this month and now looks poised for another strong week.
Mane, Saqib, Kartik, and Chauhan Share Third
Olympian Udayan Mane, playing only his second IGPL event, matched his top-10 finish in Jaipur with a strong four-under 66 on Day 1. Despite a couple of costly errors, the Pune golfer remained upbeat.
“I hit the ball really well and found most fairways,” said Mane. “The two that I missed cost me a bogey and a double bogey, but overall, I’m happy with the way I struck the ball. I had seven birdies today. The scorecard doesn’t reflect how good the round felt, but that’s golf. I’m grateful to be here and thankful to my wife for the support joining IGPL has been a big and important decision.”
He was joined at 66 by Syed Saqib Ahmed, Kartik Sharma, and Aditya Raj Kumar Chauhan, all of whom played consistent, attacking golf to stay within striking distance of the leader.
Among those tied for seventh at three-under 67 were Chiragh Kumar, a former Asian Tour winner and Asian Games medallist; Harendra Gupta, a multiple-time domestic champion; Samarth Dwivedi; and talented amateur Aryav Shah. Each of them produced solid opening rounds and remain well within contention heading into Day 2.
Kapil Kumar, the IGPL Pune winner, started with a modest two-under 68 to sit in a large group tied for 11th. Also in that pack were Rhea Purvi, Pukhraj Singh Gill, Yashas Chandra, Aryan Roopa Anand, Raghav Chugh, and Sydney Chugh.
Notably, Rhea Purvi emerged as the top-performing woman in the field, her 68 putting her just outside the top-10. Teen prodigy Kartik Singh, who has been in fine touch across recent tournaments, struggled to find rhythm in Kolkata. The 14-year-old shot a three-over 73, leaving him tied for 40th. With 54 holes still to play, the youngster will look to rebound quickly.
As the IGPL Invitational Kolkata moves into the second round, all eyes will be on Aman Raj his rhythm, his recovery, and his pursuit of consecutive titles. With weather conditions expected to remain unpredictable and a host of in-form players chasing him, the next three days promise thrilling golf at Tollygunge.
For Aman, however, the formula remains simple: fairways, greens, and putts. “If I can stay consistent and not think too far ahead,” he said with a smile, “the results will take care of themselves.”
