Gaganjeet Bhullar made history at the IGPL Invitational by clinching the first-ever title with a smart, steady performance. The Indian golf star, known for his 11 Asian Tour wins—the most by any Indian—fired rounds of 70-71-70 for a 5-under total at the Chandigarh Golf Club. He edged out M Dharma by two shots to grab the winner’s spot in this exciting new era of Indian golf.
Bhullar kicked off the final round with a bogey but bounced back strong with an early eagle. He kept things calm with a bunch of pars, then nailed a birdie on the 17th to seal the deal. “This one’s for the history books,” Bhullar said right after his win. As the first IGPL champion, he’ll always hold that special place, even as more events roll out in the coming weeks.
The prize money was massive, with a Rs 1.5 crore purse up for grabs. Bhullar pocketed Rs 22.5 lakhs, while runner-up Dharma took home Rs 15 lakhs. Veer Ganapathy, Kartik Sharma, and Shaurya Binu shared third place, each earning about Rs 8.7 lakhs.
Dharma put up a real fight, carding 70-75-68 and lighting up the back nine with five birdies. But two bogeys on the front nine hurt his chances. The young guns kept the pressure on too—left-hander Veer Ganapathy, son of coach Rahul Ganapathy, shot 72-72-70 in his pro debut to tie for third. Kartik Sharma matched the tournament’s best round with a 4-under 68, also landing in the third-place tie. Shaurya Binu, who shared the lead after the first two days, finished with 69-72-73 for the same spot.
In sixth place at 1-under, Neil Jolly and Kapil Kumar rounded out a tough field where only seven players broke par. The course played tricky after recent rains, but the Chandigarh Golf Club got it ready just in time. Standouts like Dharma, Kartik, and Sunhit Bishnoi (eighth with 75-73-68) all hit 68s, proving the IGPL’s high level.
Kartik Singh showed real promise, tying for ninth with Aman Raj, Sanju Kumar, Sachin Baisoya, Harendra Gupta, and Pukhraj Singh Gill. Among the women, Jahanvi Bakshi shone brightest after battling injuries for two years, finishing 19th overall with 73-71-75 in a mixed field of 38 pro men, 10 pro women, and six amateurs.
IGPL CEO Uttam Singh Mundy couldn’t hide his excitement. “We call the IGPL the New Era in Golf, and it’s here,” he said. He praised Bhullar as the perfect icon player and spotlighted rising stars like Veer Ganapathy, Kartik Singh, Krish Chawla, and Raghav Chugh. “These youngsters turned pro this week and proved they belong—it’s inspiring,” Mundy added. He thanked the IGPL team and the Chandigarh Golf Club for making it all happen so smoothly.
Bhullar, thrilled with his game, called the IGPL a game-changer for Indian golf. “I’m proud to kick off this new chapter,” he shared. “It brings women pros, young talents, and amateurs together with the top guys. I hope to inspire the next generation, just like Jeev Milkha Singh and others did for me.” He pointed out the drop in Indians on the Asian Tour and wants stars like Veer, Kartik, and Shaurya to wave the flag high soon. Bhullar heads to the next IGPL event before an international swing.
Veer Ganapathy nearly snagged second, sitting at 3-under on the 18th tee. He lined up an 8-foot birdie but three-putted for bogey, dropping to tied third. Still, the big-hitting debutant grinned: “I had a blast—aggressive golf with no cut. Can’t wait for more IGPL action.”
Dharma echoed the good vibes: “Loved being part of this. The players got top-notch care.”
The IGPL Tour rolls on with the next stop at Jaypee Greens in Greater Noida from September 17 to 19. Indian golf fans, get ready—this is just the start!
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