Indian amateur Arin Ahuja, 22, claimed the PGTI Qualifying School 2026-27 title by a single stroke on Friday, 23 October 2026, carding a gritty even-par 72 in the fourth and final round of the Final Qualifying Stage at the Kensville Golf & Country Club in Ahmedabad. The Noida-based golfer finished on an aggregate three-under 285 (70-73-70-72), becoming the overall champion in his very first appearance at the PGTI Qualifying School.

Final Leaderboard

India's Vedant Sirohi (71-71-73-71) and Bangladesh's Md Siddikur Rahman (69-73-71-73) shared the runners-up position at two-under 286, one shot adrift of Ahuja. The cut in the final round was set at 15-over 203, with the top 48 players earning their full cards for the 2026-27 PGTI season. Notably, the qualifying class included four amateurs and five foreign players — four Bangladeshis and one Sri Lankan — among those who secured full cards.

A Dramatic Final Round Comeback

Ahuja entered the final round tied second, just one shot off the overnight lead, but his irons let him down early. He dropped three bogeys across the first five holes after missing several greens. The son of an Army Officer steadied himself with clutch par saves from 10 to 15 feet on the seventh and eighth holes as his putting began to settle.

The pivotal moment arrived on the 14th hole, where Ahuja produced an outstanding approach shot and converted from 12 feet for an eagle that swung the contest decisively in his favour. Riding that momentum, he rolled in two more long birdie conversions on the 15th and 17th holes to move into the lead. A closing bogey on the 18th threatened to complicate matters, but it was not enough to deny him the title.

What Arin Ahuja Said

'It's been a solid week for me. I thank my coach Rahul Bajaj for his guidance. I made a poor start today, but I'm proud of the way I kept my cool and fought back towards the end. After the eagle on the 14th, I knew I had a good chance to win. I then took it one shot at a time. My putting was the key to my success this week,' Ahuja said after his victory.

He added: 'My strength has always been hitting it straight and keeping it in play. I did that well this week too. I've had some consistent performances as an amateur over the past three years, which led to my decision to take a shot at the DP World PGTI Qualifying School. This win is a big morale-booster for me, and I now plan to turn professional very soon.'

Background and What Comes Next

Ahuja, who holds one title at the junior level, was ranked India No. 2 on the amateur circuit in 2024. His victory at the PGTI Qualifying School signals an imminent transition to professional golf on the DP World PGTI tour. The 2026-27 PGTI season gets under way with the IndianOil SERVO Masters, scheduled from 17 to 20 November in Digboi, Assam — where several of the newly qualified players, including Ahuja, are expected to make their mark.