PGTI NEXGEN: Kumar registers maiden victory with final round 65 on home turf
Sanjeev Kumar Clinches First PGTI NEXGEN Win with Stunning Comeback at Lucknow Golf Club
Lucknow’s own Sanjeev Kumar finally grabbed his first professional golf victory, firing a brilliant five-under 65 in the final round of the PGTI NEXGEN’s seventh event. The 33-year-old turned things around at his home course, the Lucknow Golf Club, to win by two shots and pocket Rs 2,54,300 in prize money.
Sanjeev started the week strong but sat three shots behind the leader after two rounds (68-70). On Sunday, he unleashed his best game yet, going bogey-free with five birdies. His hot putter shone as he drained four from 10 to 20 feet between holes 1 and 11, then added another on the 12th. He held steady with pars to the end, finishing at seven-under 203. This win boosted him from third to first in the 2025 PGTI NEXGEN Order of Merit, with total earnings now at Rs 7,08,740.
Umed Kumar from Chandimandir led by three shots overnight (67-68) but stumbled with an even-par 70 in the third round. A triple-bogey on the ninth and double on the 11th hurt his chances badly. Even with five birdies on the back nine, he couldn’t catch up, ending at five-under 205 for second place. This result lifted Umed from eighth to second on the merit list.
Gurugram’s Kushal Singh rounded out the top three with a 70, totaling one-over 211.
The PGTI NEXGEN tour rewards its top performer with a full exemption to the main PGTI tour for 2026. Sanjeev, a pro since 2011, has come close to wins before but never sealed the deal—until now. "I played my best golf today," he said after the victory. "My hitting and putting clicked perfectly. I treated it like any practice round at home, using my knowledge of the course to place shots just right. Winning here with family and friends feels amazing. Thanks to the Lucknow Golf Club for the support—now I’m aiming to top the NEXGEN rankings and earn that main tour spot next year."
The Lucknow Golf Club is a unique par-70 setup: a nine-hole course played twice per round, with varying tees and pin positions for the front and back nines. Sanjeev’s local edge made all the difference in his comeback.
The NEXGEN tour takes a break now, with the next event teeing off in Bhubaneswar in early November. Golf fans, keep an eye on Sanjeev—he’s on a roll!
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