Andhra Open Championship 2026: Dhruv Sheoran Takes Early Lead
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Visakhapatnam, April 7 (NationPress) – In a stellar performance, Dhruv Sheoran, a champion on the DP World PGTI, delivered an impressive opening round of four-under 67 at the INR 1 crore Andhra Open 2026, which is being hosted at the East Point Golf Club (EPGC) in Visakhapatnam.
The 31-year-old golfer surged to the top of the leaderboard thanks to an eagle on the par-5 12th hole and an impressive streak of three consecutive birdies from holes one to three. On the 12th, Dhruv launched a remarkable 372-yard drive, followed by a gap wedge that landed just two feet from the pin, allowing him to convert the eagle on the par-71 course.
Fellow PGTI winners from Bengaluru, Chikkarangappa S. and Khalin Joshi, are tied for second place, one stroke behind at three-under 68.
The Andhra Open 2026 is sponsored by the Host Venue East Point Golf Club and the Event Partner Andhra Pradesh Golf Association (APGA).
Notably, the par-5 seventh hole has been modified to a par-4 at 477 yards, reducing the course par to 71.
Currently, Dhruv ranks 11th on the PGTI Order of Merit after six events, with his best finish being a tie for sixth at the Indorama Ventures Open Golf Championship in Ahmedabad last month.
Reflecting on his round, Dhruv stated, “The round was good. I kept giving myself chances and gained momentum after the eagle on the 12th. Although I dropped a couple of shots late, I’m pleased with my overall performance. The course is situated in a valley, making the slopes and grain of the greens challenging to interpret, but I remained patient and adhered to my strategy.”
Khalin Joshi, who won on the Asian Tour in 2018 and ranked eighth in the DP World PGTI standings in 2025, commented, “I performed well today. The greens are tricky to read and challenging for putting, but I kept the ball in play and secured some good birdies. I did lose a few shots due to a couple of three-putts, but overall, I’m pleased with my start and look forward to the next three days.”
Angad Cheema, the winner of the previous event at EPGC in 2024, carded a 69 to tie for fourth.
Saptak Talwar, the current leader of the DP World PGTI Order of Merit, ended the day tied for tenth at one-under 70.
A highlight of the day was Nepalese golfer Subash Tamang achieving a hole-in-one on the 144-yard par-3 11th hole. Tamang also finished the day with a score of 70, placing him in a tie for tenth.