Abhishek Kumar of Panchkula fired an error-free five-under 67 — sorry, a flawless five-under 65 — to claim a two-shot lead after the opening round of the inaugural ₹25 lakh DP World PGTI NexGen Vijay Kumar Memorial at Lucknow Golf Club on 9 June 2026. The 24-year-old is the sole leader heading into round two of the maiden edition of this NexGen circuit event.

Abhishek's Bogey-Free Effort

Playing in a shotgun format from the fifth hole, Abhishek converted five birdies without a single dropped shot, hitting 16 greens in regulation. On the two holes where he missed the green, he successfully scrambled for par — including a critical 12-to-13-foot putt on the sixth hole to keep his card clean.

'It was important for me to stay bogey-free today. I hit the ball well and kept giving myself chances. I found 16 greens in regulation and managed to save par on the two holes where I missed the green,' Abhishek said. He described the par save on the sixth as particularly significant to his round.

Order of Merit Ambitions

Abhishek currently sits fourth on the NexGen Order of Merit, having won the season-opening DP World PGTI NexGen event in Faridabad in February. The Order of Merit title carries a coveted exemption onto the main tour for the 2027 season — a prize firmly in his sights.

'The NexGen Order of Merit is important because finishing No. 1 gives you a stronger category on the main tour next season. Winning in Faridabad gave me confidence, and I want to keep building on that,' he said.

Pawan Kumar and Rishi Kumar Share Second

Pawan Kumar of Delhi, aged 41, and local professional Rishi Kumar are tied second at three-under 67, two shots adrift of the leader. Pawan, a regular on the DP World PGTI since 2011, mixed six birdies with three bogeys, with a highlight being a 25-to-30-foot birdie putt on the 10th hole. His best result on the main tour remains a tied-sixth finish at the Jaipur Open in 2017.

This is Pawan's first NexGen start of the season, and the tournament carries personal resonance — it honours Vijay Kumar, one of his earliest mentors. Pawan first encountered Vijay at this very venue during his debut professional season in 2011, when Vijay won the title and Pawan finished tied third, just two shots back.

'I still remember my early days on the mini tour in Lucknow, where I had the opportunity to spend time with Vijay Kumar and Sanjay Kumar. They taught us a great deal — from practice routines to handling pressure on the golf course. I'm grateful for everything I learned from them,' Pawan recalled. He regained his playing privileges for the 2026 DP World PGTI season after clearing Qualifying School earlier this year.

Rest of the Leaderboard

Faridabad's Sachin Chauhan, Delhi's Ajay Baisoya, Lucknow's Rajesh Kumar Gautam, and Kolkata's Tutul Ali are tied fourth at two-under 68, three shots behind the leader. The field remains tightly packed, setting up a competitive second round.

With Abhishek's lead still within reach for the chasing pack, and the Order of Merit stakes adding an extra layer of tension, the remaining rounds at Lucknow Golf Club promise to be closely contested.