Gaganjeet Bhullar showed his class with a composed 1-under 71 on Friday, joining overnight leader Shaurya Binu at the top of the leaderboard in the inaugural ₹1.5 crore IGPL Invitational Chandigarh.
At 3-under 141 after two rounds, Bhullar (70-71) and Binu (69-72) are locked in a tie for first place, setting up a tense battle for the title and the winner’s cheque of ₹22.5 lakh among the richest ever in domestic golf.
The leaderboard remains tightly packed. Kapil Kumar and Chandigarh’s own Harendra Gupta are just two strokes behind at 1-under, while no fewer than 10 players are within three shots of the lead. With such a bunched field, the final day promises fireworks rarely seen in Indian golf.
Adding an extra dimension to the drama is the presence of Jahanvi Bakshi, tied fifth at even par alongside five others, including teenage debutant pros Kartik Singh and Veer Ganapathy. For Jahanvi, a win would be historic not only for women’s golf but also for her personal comeback after years of battling injuries.
Bhullar steady, Binu survives a stumble
Bhullar began with a bogey but quickly recovered with birdies on the 2nd and 4th holes. Another birdie on the 12th pushed him forward, though a bogey at the 14th pegged him back. Still, his steady play was enough to join Binu at the top.
“It will be nice to begin a new IGPL Tour with a win in Chandigarh, a city that has been like home for me,” said Bhullar, who has 11 Asian Tour titles the most by any Indian. “What excites me equally is playing alongside these young golfers. They have immense talent and a bright future.”
Binu, who started the day as sole leader, appeared in complete control at one stage. Three birdies in his first seven holes and another on the 12th put him six-under for the tournament. But a disastrous stretch bogey, double-bogey, bogey from the 14th to 16th derailed his momentum. A late birdie on the 17th salvaged a level-par 72.
“My putting wasn’t the issue those three holes just don’t suit my eye,” admitted Binu. “Tomorrow will be about resetting and trusting my game again.”
Among the biggest stories of the week are the teenagers Kartik Singh and Veer Ganapathy, both making their professional debuts.
Kartik’s round was a rollercoaster, with five birdies offset by three bogeys. At 2-under through 16, he was pushing for the lead before back-to-back bogeys on the closing holes dropped him back to even par. “Putting let me down towards the end,” he said, “but I feel confident of making amends in the final round.”
Veer, playing under the watchful eye of his father and former amateur champion Rahul Ganapathy, posted a second straight 72 to stay in contention at even par.
Among the experienced challengers are Kapil Kumar, still chasing a maiden pro title despite multiple top-5 finishes, and veteran Harendra Gupta, who thrives on his home course. Four of Gupta’s 11 professional wins have come at the Chandigarh Golf Club, including one when he was still an amateur in 2003-04.
“The IGPL has given me fresh motivation,” said Harendra, who at 41 remains a formidable force on his home turf.
For Jahanvi Bakshi, this week is about more than just scores. The 22-year-old has endured a string of injuries that once threatened her career. Now, tied fifth at even par, she is relishing the chance to compete again at the highest level.
“The IGPL has been a great opportunity for me,” she said. “I’m just happy to be back, enjoying my golf, and testing myself against the best.”
With Bhullar and Binu at the helm, rising stars chasing their breakthrough, and Jahanvi eyeing history, the IGPL Invitational Chandigarh is perfectly poised for a thrilling finish.
