Chhattisgarh Open Golf: Shaurya Bhattacharya Dominates with 63 for a Convincing Five-Shot Victory

Naya Raipur (Chhattisgarh), Feb 28 (NationPress) Shaurya Bhattacharya from Delhi showcased his prowess with an impeccable final round of six-under 63, clinching a decisive five-shot triumph with a cumulative score of 27-under 249 at the INR 1 crore Chhattisgarh Open 2025 held at the Fairway Golf & Lake Resort here on Friday. Bhattacharya (64-61-61-63), who was the overnight leader by five strokes, capitalized on his position to secure his second professional victory.

The 22-year-old Bhattacharya, honored as the PGTI Emerging Player of the Year in 2024, recorded just one bogey throughout the tournament. His victory brought him a prize of INR 15 lakh, propelling him from 59th to second in the PGTI Order of Merit Ranking.

Delhi's Sachin Baisoya (67-62-64-61) delivered the best score of the final day with a 61, moving up five positions to secure the runner-up spot at 22-under 254 on the Par-69 course. Sri Lankan N. Thangaraja (66-63-62-64) finished in third place with a score of 21-under 255 after posting a 64 in the final round.

Bhattacharya, who achieved victory in his rookie season on the PGTI last year, began the day slowly, making pars on the initial seven holes. He then accelerated by taking advantage of three Par-5 holes, making birdies on the eighth and 11th holes, and scoring an eagle on the 13th. He also sank a 12-footer for a birdie on the 12th hole. His title was nearly secured with an outstanding tee shot on the Par-3 17th, landing just two feet from the pin for his final birdie.

Shaurya expressed, “It was a solid week for me with only one bogey across four rounds. Whenever I was out of position or missed the green, I recovered well. Today was all about focusing on my breathing and remaining present.

“My striking was strong throughout the week, which gave me immense confidence heading into the final day. The strategy was to aim for the flags on day four since it’s a scoring course. I aimed for a target of three to four under for the day, knowing that would likely secure the win. I’m thrilled to have done even better,” he added.

Baisoya finished the week as the runner-up after making an eagle, seven birdies, and a bogey in the final round. His runner-up prize of INR 10 lakh elevated him from 20th to third in the PGTI Ranking.

As the sun set on the course, PGTI President Kapil Dev praised the event as a significant opportunity to inspire young golfers.

PGTI CEO Amandeep Johl shared the origins of hosting the PGTI Tour in Chhattisgarh, emphasizing it was a vision of Arun Sao, the deputy chief minister, who discussed the idea with Kapil Dev in Delhi to promote the state’s facilities and potential for golf in Raipur.

“Chhattisgarh is rich in natural beauty and wildlife, yet remains largely unknown. Our goal is to promote the state through golf, which is why we partnered with Chhattisgarh Tourism. The golf course is internationally recognized, set in a stunning location by a lake, with winds that present challenging play,” Johl remarked, expressing satisfaction with the inaugural event's success.

Rahul Mehta, Owner of Victorious Choice, mentioned that Raipur was recently showcased as an exemplary model of 'Viksit Bharat' to the golf community, and he believes hosting a golf tournament in Raipur would be an excellent opportunity.

“What transpired today in this game serves as a role model for youth across the country. The way players endured the heat and achieved remarkable scores and comebacks is commendable. In Test cricket, players often lose momentum on the last day, yet today, golfers maintained their energy from the competition’s start,” Mehta noted.

He remarked that previously, Chhattisgarh's potential to host significant events, attracting around 50 golfers from India and abroad, was underutilized. More such events should be organized in Chhattisgarh to showcase the state's full capabilities.