Ahmedabad, Dec 4 (NationPress) Gaganjeet Bhullar, who started the week modestly, concluded it with an impressive performance to become the first player to claim victory three times on the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) Tour. Bhullar kicked off the week with a round of 1-under 71, which included a sensational hole-in-one, and followed it with consistent rounds of 67 and 67 on the final two days, finishing with a remarkable 11-under score at the stunning Glade One Resort and Golf Club.

The highly talented 21-year-old Raghav Chugh, a recent graduate from Rice University in the USA, put up a valiant effort but ultimately ended just shy of victory, finishing in a commendable solo second place with a score of 10-under after a round of 4-under 68.

Three international players—Justin Quiban from the Philippines, Santiago de la Fuentes from Mexico, and Manav Shah, an Indian-American—were also in the hunt to become the first international champion of the IGPL, but they ended up tied for third at 8-under.

The competition was intense, with Bhullar, Chugh, and Fuentes tied at 10-under with only two holes remaining. In the end, Bhullar's 5-under performance prevailed, highlighted by a birdie on the 18th hole and a crucial eagle-birdie on the 14th and 15th.

Quiban, who shot 68, produced six birdies but suffered a double bogey on the 17th that cost him a chance at the title. He finished with a birdie on the 18th but concluded with a total of 8-under, tying for third.

Fuentes, the 2024 Latin America Amateur Champion, faced challenges on the front nine, managing only one birdie on the Par-3 fourth hole. He rose to 10-under but stumbled with a double bogey on the tricky Par-4 17th, dropping him to a tied third finish.

Shah, one of the overnight leaders, struggled throughout the day, recording six birdies but marred by a triple bogey on the tenth. He ended with a score of 71, tying for third at 8-under.

Ridhima Dilawari was the standout female pro, securing a solid Top-10 finish with her best round of the week, a 5-under 67 featuring six birdies and one bogey. With the IGPL's arrival, Ridhima plans to focus more on the domestic circuit in the upcoming year.

Bhullar showcased his experience and skill as a strong finisher. He had a mixed front nine, starting with a bogey-birdie sequence, then rebounding with three birdies to turn in 2-under. Starting the final day one shot behind the leaders, Bhullar faced a bogey on the back nine but rallied with an eagle on the 14th and a birdie on the 15th.

With the leaderboard tight at 10-under alongside Chugh and Fuentes, Bhullar seized the lead with a birdie on the 18th, moving to 11-under.

As India’s most accomplished player on the Asian Tour with 11 wins, Bhullar secured his first two IGPL season victories in Chandigarh and Jaypee Greens. He missed several IGPL events due to international commitments and personal matters but returned strong for his third IGPL appearance in Ahmedabad, a city where he previously won a European Challenge Tour event in 2011.

Chugh, a former US Kids Teen World Champion in 2019, started the day with a bogey but quickly recovered with an eagle on the Par-5 fifth and a birdie on the ninth. He reached 10-under with back-to-back birdies on the 14th and 15th but was unable to add another birdie to force a playoff against Bhullar.

With a par on the final hole, Chugh finished just one behind, allowing Bhullar to claim victory for the third time in his three IGPL starts. Bhullar received a prize of Rs. 22.50 lakhs, while Chugh earned Rs. 15 lakhs.