Jammu: Delhi-based rookie, Shaurya Bhattacharya, made a remarkable comeback on the final day to secure his first professional title at the INR 50 lakh J&K Open 2024, presented by J&K Tourism, held at the Jammu Tawi Golf Course (JTGC).
The 21-year-old Shaurya (67-69-73-69), competing in his debut season on the PGTI, delivered an outstanding performance, carding an error-free three-under 69, the joint lowest score of the round. His total score of 10-under 278 for the week crowned him as the first rookie to win on the PGTI in five years.
Gurugram’s Kartik Sharma (71-68-67-74), who held a three-shot overnight lead and was ahead for most of the final round, faltered with bogeys on the last three holes, finishing with a 74 on Saturday and an overall score of eight-under 280.
Kolkata’s Mohammad Sanju (71) took third place with a total of five-under 283.
Shaurya, who had previously won two titles as an amateur and was India’s second-ranked amateur before turning pro earlier this year, earned a winner’s cheque of INR 7,50,000, which helped him rise from 47th to 26th place in the TATA Steel PGTI Ranking.
Starting the final round three strokes behind, Shaurya delivered precise tee and approach shots, staying close to the lead with a 30-foot birdie on the 6th and a crucial six-foot par save on the 8th. A brilliant approach on the 15th resulted in a four-foot birdie putt, keeping him in the chase.
A dramatic turn of events occurred on the 16th, where Shaurya sank a 15-foot birdie, while Kartik found the hazard and dropped a bogey, allowing Shaurya to draw level. Kartik’s chances slipped further with two more bogeys on the final two holes after missing the green on the 17th and landing in the hazard again on the 18th.
Reflecting on his victory, Shaurya said, “I was very accurate with my shots today and managed to stay within striking distance of the lead. When I was three shots back on the 15th, I kept telling myself to go for birdies but without putting too much pressure on myself. I changed my strategy today, opting to be more aggressive, and that paid off with birdies on the 15th and 16th.”
He added, “This win gives me a lot of confidence, and now I know where my game stands. I would like to thank Jammu Tawi Golf Course for the excellent playing conditions this week and J&K Tourism for their support in hosting this event.”
