Gaganjeet Bhullar Ties for Lead in Thrilling IGPL Invitational Chandigarh
In the heart of Chandigarh, Indian golf star Gaganjeet Bhullar showed why he’s a top favorite. He carded a steady 1-under 71 on the second day, tying with overnight leader Shaurya Binu at 3-under par for the tournament. This puts both players in a nail-biting share of first place at the inaugural Rs. 1.5 crore IGPL Invitational Chandigarh, the opening event of the exciting IGPL Tour.
Bhullar, who started with a 70, and Binu, with a 69 followed by a 72, now lead the pack. Close behind in tied third at 1-under are Kapil Kumar and Harendra Gupta, just two shots off the pace. The leaderboard stays super tight, with six players at even par and no less than 10 golfers within three strokes of the top. This sets up an epic final day battle in Indian golf, where young talents mix it up with seasoned pros all chasing the Rs. 22.50 lakh winner’s prize—one of the biggest in domestic golf history.
Adding real drama is Jahanvi Bakshi, the standout woman pro in the field. She’s tied for fifth with five others, only three shots back. A victory for Jahanvi would make history and mark a huge comeback after injuries sidelined her for years. "The IGPL has been a great opportunity for me," she said. "It’s given me a chance to find my game again, and I’m just happy to be playing."
Bhullar kicked off his round with a bogey but bounced back strong. He grabbed birdies on the second and fourth holes, then stayed steady with pars. A birdie on the 12th helped, though he dropped a shot on the 14th. "It feels great to lead in Chandigarh, a city like home to me," Bhullar shared. "A win tomorrow would mean a lot. Plus, I’ve loved playing with these young teens—they’ve got real talent and a bright future ahead." With 11 Asian Tour wins under his belt, Bhullar knows how to handle pressure.
Binu started hot as the solo leader, firing three birdies and one bogey in his first seven holes. He even added another on the 12th, looking set to run away with it at 6-under. But trouble hit from holes 14 to 16 with a bogey, double bogey, and another bogey, pushing him to 1-over for the day. He salvaged a birdie on 17 to end at even par for the round. "Putting wasn’t the issue—my game just didn’t click after the start," Binu explained. "Those holes don’t suit my eye."
Debutants are stealing the show too. Young Kartik Singh mixed five birdies with three bogeys for even par overall, cruising at 2-under until late putting struggles on 17 and 18 dropped him back. "Putting let me down at the end," he admitted, but he’s pumped for a strong finish. Veer Ganapathy posted back-to-back even par rounds, with his dad—former champ Rahul Ganapathy—watching closely.
In tied third, Kapil Kumar brings family golf legacy, while 41-year-old Harendra Gupta shines at his home course. Harendra learned golf here and has racked up four pro wins at Chandigarh Golf Club, including one as an amateur back in 2003-04. "The IGPL has given me fresh motivation," he said. Kapil, 33, has notched multiple top-5 finishes on the Indian pro tour and eyes his first win.
Tied for fifth with Kartik, Veer, and Jahanvi are Sanju Kumar, local hero Ranjit Singh, and Saarthak Chibber. Chibber fired the day’s low 69 after a tough 75 opener, showing real grit.
The course didn’t hand out easy scores, keeping everyone in the hunt. As the IGPL Tour kicks off with this Chandigarh showdown, fans can expect fireworks on the final day—young guns versus veterans, all vying to become the first IGPL champion.
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