Lucknow: Panchkula’s 24-year-old golfer Abhishek Kumar fired a flawless five-under 65 to seize a two-shot lead after the opening round of the ₹25 lakh DP World PGTI NexGen Vijay Kumar Memorial, being played at the Lucknow Golf Club.
Starting from the fifth hole in the shotgun format, Abhishek produced a bogey-free round highlighted by five birdies to emerge as the sole leader. The Panchkula golfer, who won the season’s first DP World PGTI NexGen event in Faridabad in February, currently occupies fourth place in the NexGen Order of Merit standings.
Reflecting on his impressive round, Abhishek said, “Avoiding bogeys was extremely important today. I struck the ball well throughout the day and consistently created scoring opportunities. I hit 16 greens in regulation, and on the two holes where I missed the green, I managed to save par.”
He added, “One of the key moments came on the sixth hole where I missed the green but holed a 12 to 13-foot putt to save par and keep my card clean.”
Abhishek is also targeting the top spot in the NexGen Order of Merit, which would secure him playing rights on the main DP World PGTI Tour for the 2027 season.
“The NexGen Order of Merit is very important because finishing number one gives you a better category on the main tour next season. My win in Faridabad boosted my confidence, and I want to carry that momentum forward,” he said.
Delhi’s Pawan Kumar, 41, and local professional Rishi Kumar shared second place at three-under 67, two shots behind the leader. Pawan, who started from the third hole, recorded six birdies and three bogeys during his round. His best finish on the main tour remains a tied sixth place at the Jaipur Open in 2017.
A group of four players—Sachin Chauhan of Faridabad, Ajay Baisoya of Delhi, Rajesh Kumar Gautam of Lucknow, and Tutul Ali of Kolkata—were tied for fourth place with rounds of two-under 68.
For Pawan Kumar, a member of the Professional Golf Tour of India since 2011, the tournament carries special significance as it honours one of his early mentors, the late Vijay Kumar. Pawan first met Vijay during his debut professional season in Lucknow in 2011, when Vijay won the title while Pawan finished tied third, just two shots behind.
Recalling those formative years, Pawan said, “I still remember the early days of the Lucknow mini-tour when I had the opportunity to spend time with Vijay Kumar and Sanjay Kumar. They taught us everything from practice habits to handling pressure situations. I will always be grateful for what I learned from them.”
Speaking about his round, he added, “I got off to a great start with birdies on my first two holes, which gave me confidence. One of the highlights of the day was a birdie putt of around 25 to 30 feet on the 10th hole.”
Pawan regained his playing card for the 2026 DP World PGTI season through the Qualifying School earlier this year.
The winner of the 2026 DP World PGTI NexGen Order of Merit will earn a coveted place on the main DP World PGTI Tour for the 2027 season.
Launched in 2025, the DP World PGTI NexGen Tour serves as India’s developmental professional golf circuit. The initiative aims to provide emerging golfers with more competitive opportunities, strengthen the depth of Indian professional golf, and expand the sport’s reach across Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities in the country.
The Professional Golf Tour of India expressed its gratitude to umbrella partner DP World and tour partners Axis Bank, Amul, Campa, Kalyani, Amrutanjan Energylite, Golf Plus Monthly, and Golf Design India for their continued support in promoting and developing professional golf in India.
