Aryan Roopa Anand produced a career-best professional round to seize the opening-day lead at the IGPL Invitational Sri Lanka, firing a sensational 9-under 62 at the historic Royal Colombo Golf Club.
Competing at the iconic venue for the first time, the two-time All India Amateur champion delivered a near-flawless performance to set the early pace in the final event of the 2025 IGPL Tour.
Aryan’s round was a statement of intent. He opened with back-to-back birdies and closed in identical fashion, highlighting a day when almost everything clicked. His card featured nine birdies and an eagle, offset by just two bogeys one on each nine on a course that rewarded aggressive yet controlled play. Still searching for his first professional victory, the young Indian looked composed and confident throughout a low-scoring opening day.
“I was quite relaxed today, and the putter was rolling well,” Aryan said after his round. “I had shot around 6-under earlier this year and wanted to go past that. When I was 7-under with two holes to go, someone said it would be great to finish birdie-birdie and it happened.”
While Aryan topped the leaderboard, much of the attention was drawn to the presence of Indian golf legend Jeev Milkha Singh, who made his IGPL debut and reminded everyone of his enduring class. The 54-year-old four-time DP World Tour winner carded a superb 7-under round to sit second, finishing with a flourish that underlined his competitive instincts.
Jeev was just 2-under through the first 12 holes as he acclimatised to the Colombo heat, but then found another gear. He reeled off four consecutive birdies from the 13th to the 16th, narrowly missed another on the 17th, and closed with a birdie on the 18th to complete a run of five birdies in his final six holes.
“It was very hot, but I got used to it as the round went on,” Jeev said. “After being two-under early, it felt great to finish the way I did. I’ve always wanted to play this historic course, and it finally happened.”
Local hopes were lifted by Sri Lankan amateur Kaya Daluwatte, who shot an impressive 6-under 65 to finish third and emerge as the top woman player after the opening round. The 16-year-old, already regarded as one of the region’s brightest prospects, produced a stunning finish with six birdies in her final seven holes.
Daluwatte, who has represented Sri Lanka at the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship and was recently selected for the R&A Academy in New Zealand, soaked in the experience of playing alongside seasoned professionals. “It was great playing with Olympians like Udayan Mane and SSP Chawrasia. I learned so much just by watching them,” said the teenager, who will join Pepperdine University in the United States next year.
Read Articles Without Ads On Your IndiaSportsHub App. Download Now And Stay Updated
The leaderboard reflected the depth and diversity that has become a hallmark of the IGPL. Order of Merit leader Aman Raj and six-time Asian Tour winner SSP Chawrasia were tied fourth at 4-under, while a strong group featuring Gaganjeet Bhullar, Sachin Baisoya, Veer Ganapathy, Karandeep Kochhar, and Harendra Gupta shared sixth place at 3-under. In total, ten players finished the day at four-under or better, underlining the benign scoring conditions and attacking intent across the field.
For Jeev, the joy of the week extended beyond his scorecard. The IGPL’s unique format, bringing together legends and emerging talents, clearly resonated with him. “I don’t think there’s a pro tour like this anywhere,” he said. “You have legends playing alongside young stars, many of whom are still amateurs. Just watching seniors up close can be a huge learning experience for them.”
The generational mix was evident throughout the field. Jeev played alongside Veer Ganapathy, son of former touring professional Rahul Ganapathy, while Jyoti Randhawa’s son Zoravar featured in a group with Gaganjeet Bhullar. Jeev’s own son, Harjai, was also part of the event, sharing the stage with players his father has competed against for decades.
“It was fun being in the field with Jyoti and Chawrasia again,” Jeev added. “But the added joy was seeing our sons out there competing as well.”
As the IGPL Invitational Sri Lanka heads into the second round, Aryan Roopa Anand leads a packed and compelling leaderboard, with legends, local talents, and rising stars all firmly in contention. With form, experience, and youthful ambition converging at Royal Colombo, the stage is set for a fascinating battle to close out the 2025 IGPL season.
