The inaugural CIDCO Open 2025 has made an emphatic start on the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), delivering high-quality competition, strong international participation and a clear statement of intent from its venue, the Kharghar Valley Golf Course (KVGC) in Navi Mumbai.
As the tournament reached its halfway mark after two rounds, it was Veer Ahlawat who emerged as the central figure, producing a commanding performance to establish a significant lead in the ₹1 crore event .
Played from December 16 to 19, the CIDCO Open marks the first PGTI tournament ever staged at KVGC, a government-developed public golf course promoted by the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO). The successful hosting of the event has already validated the investment made in building a venue capable of meeting international competitive standards.
Ahlawat’s Course Mastery Defines the Early Narrative
Veer Ahlawat wasted little time in stamping his authority on the tournament. In the opening round, the in-form Indian golfer fired a six-under 65, establishing the competitive course record for the Par-71 layout and opening up a two-shot lead over the field. His round was built on aggressive yet controlled golf, capitalising on the scoring opportunities presented by the course’s reachable Par-5s and short Par-4s.
That advantage only grew stronger in Round 2. Ahlawat followed up with another 65 to move to 12-under par (130) at the halfway stage, giving himself a cushion of five to seven shots over the nearest challengers. Such consistency across the first 36 holes underlined his comfort with the KVGC design and his ability to quickly adapt to new championship venues.
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Speaking about the course, Ahlawat noted that the layout suited his long-hitting game, allowing him to attack multiple holes aggressively. The ability to reach three of the four Par-5s in two shots and take advantage of drivable Par-4s proved decisive, translating power off the tee into repeatable birdie chances.
Behind Ahlawat, the leaderboard reflected the event’s international flavour, a key objective for the organisers. Italy’s Michele Ortolani and American golfer Koichiro Sato were among the early challengers, both opening with four-under 67s. As the second round progressed, Sato and India’s Manu Gandas continued to apply pressure, remaining within the top group heading into the cut. Players from Sri Lanka, Uganda and the Czech Republic also featured prominently near the top of the leaderboard, reinforcing the CIDCO Open’s status as more than just a domestic stop on the PGTI.
This diversity of competition lent credibility to the event’s ambition of becoming a regular international fixture. One of the biggest movers of Round 2 was Divyanshu Bajaj, who surged up the leaderboard with a five-under 66 after an opening-round par. His jump highlighted the volatility of the new course, where familiarity and confidence quickly translated into low scoring.
KVGC Passes Its Championship Test
The Kharghar Valley Golf Course itself emerged as one of the key talking points of the week. Designed by Vijit Nandrajog of Golf Design India, the 7,180-yard layout blends visual drama with strategic risk-reward elements, including India’s longest golf hole and a striking island green. While visually imposing, early scoring patterns suggested the course is highly playable for professionals willing to commit to aggressive lines.
Importantly, KVGC represents a shift in Indian golf infrastructure. As a publicly accessible course developed by a government agency, it challenges the traditional reliance on private clubs for elite tournaments. CIDCO’s emphasis on sustainability most notably the use of treated wastewater for irrigation and professional course management further strengthens its credentials as a long-term tournament venue.
Competitive Depth and the Cut Battle
With a field of 126 professionals, the CIDCO Open followed the standard PGTI format, with the top 50 players and ties advancing after 36 holes. The projected cut line hovered around par or one-over, reflecting both the scoring potential of the course and the depth of the field. Even players sitting mid-table were required to produce disciplined rounds to avoid early elimination.
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The opening rounds also produced memorable moments, including two holes-in-one on the same day, a rare occurrence that added to the tournament’s debut appeal. However, those moments also illustrated the course’s demands brilliance on individual holes needed to be backed by consistency across 18 holes.
While final results were still pending at the time of reporting, the first half of the CIDCO Open clearly established its competitive credibility. Veer Ahlawat’s dominance positioned him as the overwhelming favourite, but the chasing pack ensured that the remaining rounds retained sporting intrigue.
More broadly, the tournament’s smooth execution, international participation and high-quality scoring confirmed that the CIDCO Open has arrived as a meaningful addition to the PGTI calendar. For Indian professional golf, the event represents both an expansion of opportunity and a blueprint for how public infrastructure can successfully host elite competition.
As the CIDCO Open moves toward its conclusion, the early signs suggest it will not only crown a worthy champion but also leave behind a lasting legacy for golf in Maharashtra and beyond.
