Umed Kumar clinched the 2025 Dilip Tirkey Invitational with a dramatic finish that stole the spotlight in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The 24‑year‑old from Haryana hit two chip‑in birdies – one on the final regulation hole and another in the sudden‑death playoff – to win the Rs 20 lakh PGTI NEXGEN event.
The victory is Umed’s second NEXGEN title of the season. He walked away with a cheque worth Rs 2,54,000 and topped the 2025 PGTI NEXGEN Order of Merit with total earnings of Rs 8,61,140. Because of this performance, Umed now has an exemption on the PGTI main tour for 2026.
Umed stayed in the lead from start to finish. He shot rounds of 67‑70‑71, finishing the week at eight‑under 208. Nearby competitor Kushal Singh, from Gurugram, posted a tournament‑best round of 65 and also finished at eight‑under 208, setting up a playoff. Kushal’s 65 was the best score of the week, but it was not enough to overtake Umed.
The tournament marked the first PGTI event played in Odisha and was supported by Indian hockey legend Dilip Tirkey. The field included Chandarjeet Yadav (66) who finished third at seven‑under 209, and Sanjeev Kumar who tied for fourth at five‑under 211. Sanjeev earned Rs 1,02,300 for his finish and ended the season with Rs 8,11,040, putting him second on the Order of Merit. Ajay Kumar Sahu, a local professional, finished 27th with a six‑over 222.
Umed described his match as a “dream finish.” He faced pressure on the final day, making a birdie and two bogeys on the front nine before adding two more birdies between the 11th and 17th. Though he missed five putts, his fairways came in. When Kushal surged with an eagle and seven birdies, Umed needed a miracle to stay in the lead. His chip‑in birdie on the 18th sent the competition into a playoff, where he replicated the feat an instant later, chipping his way into the title while Kushal missed a birdie.
“I’ve never had back‑to‑back chip‑ins in a career, and here I did it to win both the match and the Order of Merit,” Umed said. “It’s been an unbelievable day, and I’m delighted to earn my spot on the main tour next year. This win has given me a lot of self‑belief.”
With two wins, one runner‑up finish, and another top‑five appearance, Umed finished the season at the top of the NEXGEN Order of Merit. He thanked PGTI CEO Amandeep Johl for giving him a chance to compete in his first NEXGEN event, which he turned into a victory.
Source: ianslive
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