How Did Veer Ahlawat Clinch the CIDCO Open Title with a Remarkable 4-Under 67 in the Final Round?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Veer Ahlawat won the CIDCO Open with a total score of 14-under 270.
- The tournament featured a prize pool of Rs 1 crore.
- Ahlawat's victory marks his second title of 2025 and sixth overall.
- Rohan Dhole Patil achieved his best finish on the PGTI as the runner-up.
- The event showcased the Kharghar Valley Golf Course as a premier golfing venue.
Navi Mumbai, Dec 19 (NationPress) Veer Ahlawat showcased his extensive experience to emerge as the victor in the Rs 1 crore CIDCO Open, marking the inaugural professional competition held at the Kharghar Valley Golf Course (KVGC) in Navi Mumbai on Friday.
The golfer from Gurugram, Ahlawat (65-65-73-67), dominated the leaderboard for the initial three days, leading solo in the first two rounds and sharing the lead after the third round. He delivered an impressive final round of four-under 67, overcoming a challenging start to secure victory by three strokes with a total of 14-under 270.
Towering at six feet four inches, Ahlawat, the 2024 PGTI Order of Merit champion, celebrated his second title of 2025 and his sixth overall, earning a winner's cheque of Rs 15 lakh, which boosted him from 18th to 11th place in the 2025 PGTI Rankings.
Pune’s Rohan Dhole Patil (70-69-64-70), who was tied for the lead with Veer overnight, finished as the runner-up after a last round of 70, concluding with a total of 11-under 273. This marked his best performance on the PGTI, and he received a cheque of Rs 10 lakh, elevating him from 42nd to 32nd in the PGTI Rankings.
Both Manu Gandas from Gurugram (68-68-70-68) and Italy’s Michele Ortolani (67-66-72-69) finished tied for third at 10-under 274.
In an exciting moment, Ravi Kumar from Chandigarh recorded the third hole-in-one of the tournament during his final round of 71, acing the 13th hole. He ended with a total of four-under 280, securing a share of ninth place.
Ahlawat, representing the DLF Golf & Country Club in Gurugram, started strong with birdies on the first and third holes. However, he went through a challenging stretch until the 10th hole, where he made one birdie but also recorded two bogeys and a double-bogey, encountering trees and a water hazard on the fourth and ninth holes, respectively.
With competitors Rohan Dhole Patil, Michele Ortolani, and Manu Gandas closing in on him at the turn, Ahlawat regained momentum with an eagle and four birdies against a single bogey in the final eight holes. He took control by sinking a 20-foot eagle on the 12th and a birdie on the 18th, along with a 15-foot birdie on the 13th.
As the competition intensified on the back nine, Rohan Dhole Patil struggled early but managed to score three consecutive birdies before a bogey on the final hole left him three shots behind Ahlawat.
Ahlawat, who gained valuable international experience on the DP World Tour during the 2025 season due to his PGTI Order of Merit triumph last year, reflected, “I started well today but faced some challenges until the 10th. From the 11th onwards, I really hit my stride.
“Even with difficulties in the middle, I felt confident because I’ve handled tight situations before. I knew that once I brought my ‘A’ game, I would be tough to beat.
“I extend my gratitude to CIDCO and L&T for their support of this event. CIDCO has done a fantastic job with the Kharghar Valley Golf Course, which I believe is one of the finest golf courses in the country for its layout and length,” Ahlawat stated.