NCR Cup Golf Day 2: Gadre leads at 7-under, Gauri surges in girls
Synopsis
Shashank Gadre sits three shots clear at 7-under 135, Gauri Sharma's was the only sub-par round in the entire girls' field on Day 2, and Taanush Kumar's 6-under 65 was the shot of the tournament in Category D — the 26th NCR Cup in Noida is setting up for a compelling final-round finish with WAGR points on the line.
Key Takeaways
Shashank Sachin Gadre leads Category A & B Boys at 7-under 135 , three shots clear, heading into the final round.
Gauri Sharma fired the only sub-par round in the girls' division — a 2-under 69 — to take the Category A & B Girls lead at 145 (+3) .
Chaitanya Pandey tops Category B Boys and is tied third overall at 140 (-2) .
Ritik Madan holds a 14-stroke lead in Gentlemen Amateur at 143 (+1) .
Taanush Kumar carded the round of the tournament — a 6-under-par 65 — to dominate Category D Boys.
The tournament is held in Noida and carries official World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points.
Shashank Sachin Gadre maintained his commanding grip on the Category A & B Boys leaderboard, Gauri Sharma broke away in the Category A & B Girls section, and Chaitanya Pandey continued his impressive form in Category B on Day 2 of the 26th NCR Cup Junior & Amateur Golf Tournament at Noida on Thursday, 24 September 2026. The flagship tournament, which carries official World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points, saw the penultimate round for Category Amateur, A, and B players, while Categories C, D, and E made their championship debuts.
Gadre Holds Firm at the Top
Shashank Sachin Gadre built on his opening-round 67 with a polished 3-under-par 68 to reach a 36-hole total of 7-under 135, giving himself a comfortable three-shot cushion heading into the final round. The charge for the lead was mounted by Sakshity Pureandre, who fired a blistering 5-under-par 66 — the low round of the day in the boys' field — to climb into sole second place at 138 (-4).
Category B standout Chaitanya Pandey continued his impressive run with a 70, sitting comfortably atop Category B and tied third overall at 140 (-2) alongside Category A competitors Arshvant Srivastava and Smyaan Gupta, both carding 71. Zoravar Singh Toor posted a sparkling 68 (-3) to climb up the standings. In Category B, Aditya Tiwari and Ayan Khan share second place at 150 (+8), a full ten strokes adrift of Pandey.
Gauri Sharma Seizes Girls Lead With Only Sub-Par Round
Gauri Sharma produced the standout performance of the day in the girls' division, firing a 2-under-par 69 — the only sub-par round across all girls' categories — to break away from an overnight three-way tie and claim the outright 36-hole lead at 145 (+3). Her closest challenger, Aahana Kashyap, the round-one co-leader, carded an even-par 71 to sit in sole second at 147 (+5). Samaira Tomar is third at 148 (+6) after a resilient 71.
In Category B Girls, Dalisha Chetry remained steady with a 1-over 72 to consolidate her lead at 149 (+7).
Ritik Madan Dominates Amateur Division
In the Gentlemen Amateur category, overnight leader Ritik Madan delivered a composed level-par 71 — featuring a flawless 3-under 32 on the back nine — to reach a two-day aggregate of 143 (+1). His 14-stroke lead over second-placed Kushagra Gaur at 157 effectively puts the title beyond reach for the field barring a dramatic collapse. Harssh Ranna sits third at 160. In the Ladies Amateur division, Anoop Singh moved to the top of the leaderboard.
Opening Rounds: Stars Emerge in C, D, and E Categories
In Category C Boys, Avviraaj fired a composed 3-over 74 to lead by a single stroke over a three-way tie among Mohammad Rehan, Drona Singh Dhull, and Shan Alvi, all at 75 (+4). Aaliyah Kalra stole the show in Category C Girls with a brilliant 1-over 72, opening up an 11-stroke lead over Samaira Handa and Aadya Kaushal, who both carded 83.
Category D Boys produced the round of the tournament: Taanush Kumar carded a breathtaking 6-under-par 65 to lead Priyansh Jain by seven shots. In Category D Girls, Mahira Sharma established a commanding position with a 2-over 73. In the Category E (9 holes) Boys section, Zowra Veer Sikand set the pace with a 5-under 31, two clear of Lakshit Deswal and Siddhik Chaturvedi. Manasvi Rathor leads the Category E Girls with an under-par 32 (-4), four strokes ahead of Kaaira Khunga.
The final round for the senior categories is set to decide WAGR rankings and titles, with Gadre, Gauri, and Madan all in strong positions to close out their respective victories.
Point of View
But Sakshity Pureandre's 66 is a reminder that a three-shot lead is fragile in junior golf. The real story, though, is Gauri Sharma: being the sole player in any girls' category to break par on Day 2 is not a statistical footnote — it is a statement of class. With WAGR points on the line, the final round will test whether these leaders can execute under ranking pressure, something that distinguishes competitive junior golf from a routine school tournament.
NationPress
24 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NCR Cup Junior & Amateur Golf Tournament?
The NCR Cup is a flagship junior and amateur golf tournament held in Noida that carries official World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points. The 26th edition is currently underway, with categories ranging from Category A & B to E and Amateur divisions for both boys and girls.
Who is leading the NCR Cup after Day 2?
Shashank Sachin Gadre leads the Category A & B Boys section at 7-under 135, three shots ahead of Sakshity Pureandre. Gauri Sharma leads the Category A & B Girls at 145 (+3) after firing the only sub-par round in the girls' field.
What WAGR points are at stake at the NCR Cup?
The 26th NCR Cup is an official WAGR-points event, making it one of the most significant junior and amateur golf tournaments in the region. The final round for Category Amateur, A, and B players will determine the ranking points allocation.
Who is the standout performer in the lower categories so far?
Taanush Kumar produced the round of the tournament with a 6-under-par 65 to dominate Category D Boys, while Aaliyah Kalra leads Category C Girls by 11 strokes after a 1-over 72. Both rounds came in the opening day for those categories.
What happens in the final round of the NCR Cup?
The final round will decide titles and WAGR point allocations for Category Amateur, A, and B players. Gadre, Gauri Sharma, and Ritik Madan all hold substantial leads in their respective sections, though the competitive field means any final-round collapse could change the outcome.
