IGPL Bharath Classic 2026: Aryan Roopa Anand fires 68, Kochhar blazes 5-under through 9
Synopsis
Fresh off his first IGPL Tour title in Congo, Aryan Roopa Anand is already in contention at the $500,000 Bharath Classic in Morocco — carding a 68 to sit T-7 — while Kochhar is on a tear at 5-under through nine holes. Thailand's Youprayong leads at 65, but the Indian charge is very much alive.
Key Takeaways
Aryan Roopa Anand carded a 4-under 68 , tied for 7th place in Round 1 of the IGPL Bharath Classic 2026 in El Jadida, Morocco .
Karandeep Kochhar was 5-under through nine holes in the afternoon wave, including four consecutive birdies from holes 2–5.
Clubhouse leader Runchanapong Youprayong (Thailand) shot a 7-under 65 ; Australian Will Florimo is second at 66 .
Shaurya Bhattacharya finished at 2-under 70 , tied for 16th , after late bogeys on the 6th and 8th holes.
The Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort stretches 7,448 yards ; approximately half the field was still on the course at the time of reporting.
Aryan Roopa Anand carded a composed 4-under 68 to make a strong opening-round statement at the $500,000 IGPL Bharath Classic in El Jadida, Morocco, sitting three strokes off the pace set by clubhouse leader Runchanapong Youprayong of Thailand on 4 June 2026. The Mysuru-born golfer, a twice All-India amateur champion who claimed his first professional title on the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) Tour in Congo last month, tied for 7th place after the early wave at the Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort.
Aryan's Round: Bounce-Back After Opening Bogey
Aryan opened with a bogey but quickly recovered, stringing together three consecutive birdies from the third to the fifth hole to reestablish his rhythm. A birdie on the ninth brought him to 2-under at the turn. He closed strongly, picking up two more birdies on the 14th and 18th — both Par-5s — to sign for a 68. He played alongside Thailand's Gunn Charoenkul and seasoned Guatemalan Jose Toledo. Aryan had recorded three sub-par rounds en route to his Congo title last month, and his composure here underlines a player in form.
Kochhar Sizzling Through Nine Holes
Karandeep Kochhar, who began in the afternoon wave, was 5-under par through just nine holes at the time of reporting, with approximately half the field still on the course. His nine holes included a remarkable four-birdie streak from the second to the fifth hole, plus a fifth birdie on the seventh. Kochhar, who finished tied fourth at the IGPL Dubai last year, looks well-placed to contend once he completes his round.
Bhattacharya Drops Late, Cards 70
Indian golfer Shaurya Bhattacharya, competing on the Asian Tour, started from the tenth hole in the second group. He moved to 4-under after a birdie on the third hole put him briefly inside the Top 5, but late bogeys on the sixth and eighth holes cost him ground. He finished with a 2-under 70, tied for 16th place.
Leaderboard Snapshot
Thailand's Runchanapong Youprayong leads the field at 7-under 65, one clear of Australian Will Florimo who shot a 66. Tied for third at 67 are Australians Jed Morgan, South African Ian Snyman, and New Zealander Nick Voke. Among other notable names, Thailand's Jazz Janewattananond, Bangladeshi veteran Siddikur Rehman, and South African Justin Harding all carded 2-under 70. Defending champion of last week's IGPL Morocco Rising Stars 2026 on the Asian Development Tour, Tanapat Pichaikool, shot an even-par 72 at the same course.
Course and Context
The Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort stretches a demanding 7,448 yards, presenting a stiff test for the international field. With roughly half the field yet to complete their opening rounds, the leaderboard remains fluid. The Bharath Classic carries a $500,000 purse and is a marquee event on the IGPL Tour calendar. All eyes will be on whether Aryan can maintain his recent momentum and whether Kochhar can convert his blistering nine-hole start into a genuine first-round lead.
Point of View
Not just spike. Kochhar's blistering front-nine is a reminder of his consistent near-misses on the IGPL circuit, including last year's T-4 in Dubai. The real story here is whether Indian golfers can close, not just open — a pattern that has historically separated them from the Asian Tour's Thai and Australian contingent, who dominate the leaderboard once again.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the IGPL Bharath Classic 2026?
The IGPL Bharath Classic is a $500,000 tournament on the Indian Golf Premier League Tour, being played at the Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort in El Jadida, Morocco. It is one of the marquee events on the IGPL Tour calendar for 2026.
How did Aryan Roopa Anand perform in Round 1?
Aryan Roopa Anand carded a 4-under 68, recovering from an opening bogey with five birdies including a three-in-a-row stretch from holes 3 to 5. He is tied for 7th place, three strokes behind leader Runchanapong Youprayong.
Who is leading the IGPL Bharath Classic after Round 1?
Thailand's Runchanapong Youprayong leads at 7-under 65, one stroke ahead of Australian Will Florimo (66). Jed Morgan, Ian Snyman, and Nick Voke are tied third at 67.
How is Karandeep Kochhar placed after Round 1?
Kochhar was 5-under par through nine holes in the afternoon wave and had not yet completed his first round at the time of reporting. He birdied four consecutive holes from the 2nd to the 5th, plus the 7th.
Who is Aryan Roopa Anand?
Aryan Roopa Anand is a professional golfer from Mysuru who is a twice All-India amateur champion. He won his first IGPL Tour title in Congo last month, making him one of India's most in-form golfers heading into the Bharath Classic.
