Angad Cheema Triumphs at the Kapil Dev Grant Thornton Invitational with a Stellar Final Round

Bengaluru, April 26 (NationPress) Chandigarh golfer Angad Cheema showcased an impressive performance in the final round, scoring a six-under 66 to secure victory at the INR 2 crore Kapil Dev Grant Thornton Invitational 2025 held at the Prestige Golfshire Club in Bengaluru on Saturday. Cheema's final round score of (66-64-66) led him to a total of 20-under 196 for the 54-hole competition, marking his fourth professional title and third win on the PGTI main tour, earning him a victory by a two-stroke margin.

This win enabled the 35-year-old Cheema to receive a winner's cheque of INR 30 lakh, boosting him from 28th to 10th in the PGTI Order of Merit.

Bengaluru’s Khalin Joshi (65-67-66) finished as the runner-up with a score of 18-under 198, while Faridabad’s Abhinav Lohan (66-65-70) took third place at 15-under 201, following a final round of 70.

Yuvraj Sandhu ended tied for fourth at 12-under 204, moving up from third to first in the PGTI Order of Merit, with total season earnings of INR 54,67,300. On the same day, Aman Raj equaled the course record of 63, previously set earlier in the week, finishing tied for sixth at 11-under 205.

Among the female professionals, Pranavi Urs (71-65-72) achieved the best finish, tying for 18th place with a total of eight-under 208.

Cheema, who began the day as the leader by one stroke, maintained his advantage while playing in the afternoon alongside the amateurs. He faced a rocky start with a bogey on the 11th hole but quickly bounced back with three birdies on the back nine, including a notable 30-foot conversion.

On a particularly windy day, Cheema capitalized on the front nine, scoring four additional birdies, with three coming from distances of 10 to 20 feet. His excellent approach shots allowed for a tap-in birdie on the fourth hole.

Feeling confident and relaxed throughout the tournament, Cheema remarked, "Competing alongside amateurs while vying for the main prize presents its challenges, but I managed well. I was fortunate to have supportive amateurs in my group.

"Playing in the afternoon session allowed me to set a target, as Khalin had established the mark at 18-under after the morning round, which guided my strategy. My putting was strong throughout the week, and I made crucial putts today. After making the birdie on the seventh, I felt more comfortable with a two-shot lead.

"I've been performing well this year, although my results didn't fully reflect that. However, my rhythm improved over the last three events, building momentum leading into this tournament," added Angad, who last won a title in Vizag the previous year, ending an 11-year victory drought.

Khalin Joshi, who started the day in third place, ascended to the clubhouse leader after a round of 66 that included seven birdies and a bogey.

The 32-year-old international winner surged into contention with late birdies on the par-3 15th and 17th holes, sinking a 12-footer and landing his tee shot within three feet, respectively.

Khalin received a cheque of INR 20 lakh, moving up from 12th to seventh in the PGTI Order of Merit.

The tournament combined a Professional Championship with an exciting Pro-Am format, uniting professionals and amateurs in an engaging manner. The three-day, 54-hole championship featured 60 male and 12 female professionals competing for the same prize fund.

This event also included three Pro-Am rounds in a rotational format, with 48 professionals teeing off in the morning and the remaining 24 pairing with 72 amateurs in the afternoon session.