Patna, March 26 (NationPress) Sunit Chowrasia marked his comeback after a lengthy injury hiatus by clinching a hard-fought one-shot victory at the INR 25 lakh Alpha Sports Academy Golf Championship 2026, held at the Patna Golf Club. This tournament is the fourth event in the 2026 DP World PGTI NexGen season.

The Kolkata golfer, Sunit Chowrasia (71-65-73), who is the nephew of the renowned SSP Chawrasia, entered the final round with a three-shot lead and scored a consistent 73, securing his first title with a cumulative score of seven-under 209 for the tournament. The 31-year-old's victory earned him a prize of INR 3,17,875, propelling him from 41st to sixth place in the 2026 DP World PGTI NexGen Order of Merit.

Bipin Mukhiya (68-75-67) delivered the best round of the day with a score of 67, climbing four spots to finish as the runner-up at six-under 210. This second-place finish awarded him a cheque of INR 2,67,875, elevating him from seventh to first place in the NexGen merit list, with total earnings of INR 5,28,688 for the season.

Both Divesh Rana (68), Vinay Kumar Yadav (72), and Rajesh Kumar Gautam (74) shared third place at three-under 213. Among the Patna-based professionals, Md Nawab achieved the best finish, tying for 13th place at one-over 217.

Although Chowrasia did not perform at his best on Thursday, he managed to maintain his lead against his closest competitors. His front nine included two birdies and two bogeys, followed by a back nine where he conceded one bogey but secured crucial pars to emerge as the eventual champion.

Having been sidelined due to injury for three and a half years before returning to the DP World PGTI in February, Chowrasia expressed, “With a comfortable lead entering the final round, my strategy was to play conservatively and capitalize on birdie opportunities as they arose. Today wasn't my best performance, but I managed to stay composed during the pressure-filled back nine to finish strong.”

“This victory is incredibly uplifting for me, especially after a long break from competitive golf. It’s precisely what I needed to revitalize my game. While I have been hitting the ball well in recent events, yesterday’s performance brought all facets of my game together, significantly boosting my confidence heading into the upcoming season in Patna,” Chowrasia added.

Amandeep Johl, CEO of the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), stated, “The successful organization of the inaugural Alpha Sports Academy Golf Championship at the distinguished Patna Golf Club marks a significant milestone for the DP World PGTI NexGen. The tournament showcased a high level of competition and served as an excellent platform for emerging Indian professionals to demonstrate their skills. We extend our gratitude to Alpha Sports Academy for their ongoing support in the advancement of Indian golf. At the Professional Golf Tour of India, we strive to expand the game into new areas, and Patna has once again shown to be an outstanding host. We look forward to building upon this momentum in future seasons.”