Ahmedabad, Nov 29 (NationPress) Local amateur Ishaan Chawhan, making his comeback after battling injuries for the last three years, emerged as the leading Indian competitor after three rounds at the Bharath Classic 2025.

Chawhan, who celebrated his 22nd birthday just four weeks ago, carded a score of 68, marking his third consecutive round in the 60s, bringing his total to 12-under and placing him tied for third, a rise from his previous sixth position.

With his recent performances yielding Top-5 finishes, including a result at the Gujarat Amateurs on this very course, Chawhan trails the Thai pair of Jazz Janewattananond (65) and Poosit Supupramai (66), who made headlines with a hole-in-one on the 16th and a birdie on the 18th.

They lead at 15-under, maintaining a three-shot advantage over the group in Tied-third, which includes first-round leader, Korean Heemin Chang (71), and Thai Panuphol Pittyarat (70), who last won on the Asian Tour in 2018.

Chawhan often plays at the nearby Kalhaar Blue and Kensville courses. His last amateur victory occurred in 2022 at the Western India Amateurs.

“I’ve faced injuries in my knee, back, and wrist, causing significant time away from the sport. I’ve only started regaining my form over the past year,” shared the modest Chawhan from Ahmedabad. “My knee got hurt while playing football, leading to other injuries.”

“I frequently play at Kalhaar and Kensville,” he noted, adding that his last amateur tournament was at this same course less than a month ago, where he finished in the Top 5. “I really enjoy this course,” he said, emphasizing how well he managed his game, showcasing his familiarity with the layout.

Beginning his round from the tenth alongside Gill and Steve Lewton, Chawhan started with four pars but quickly gained momentum with back-to-back birdies, though he slipped with a bogey on the 18th. He maintained steady play, securing three additional birdies on the third, sixth, and ninth holes, importantly avoiding any further drops, which kept him in Tied-third and within the Top five with one day left to play.

Chawhan smiled and remarked, “I’m not looking too far ahead; I’ll continue playing my game.”

Four other Indian players are close behind at 9-under, including IGPL Order of Merit leader and two-time IGPL Tour winner Aman Raj (66), who rebounded from a modest opening score of 73 to post back-to-back rounds of 68-66. Pukhraj Singh Gill (71), another IGPL Tour winner, Shaurya Binu (69), and Indian Tour leader Yuvraj Sandhu (69), along with Thailand’s Settee Prakongvech (69), are also in the mix.

Ajeetesh Sandhu (70), seeking to secure an Asian Tour card for the next year, is tied for 17th, sitting at 8-under, seven shots behind the leaders.

Aman Raj scored birdies on all four Par-5s, accumulating seven birdies against just one bogey, while Yuvraj Sandhu achieved four birdies with one bogey.

Aman, who has shown excellent form this season, stated, “It felt great to post a low score, and there’s still one more day left.”

Binu, who holds one professional win, recorded five birdies, including three consecutive from the fifth to the seventh, and added another on the ninth. Starting from the third, he finished strong with a birdie on his 17th hole of the day.

Gill commented, “My driving wasn’t up to par today, but I persevered to finish one under.”

Behind the top five, notable names at 11-under included Carlos Pigem (71) and Steve Lewton (69), while four more competitors were at 10-under: veteran Bangladeshi Siddikur Rehman (67), Korean up-and-comer Wooyoung Cho (74), recent Asian Tour winner Ekpharit Wu (70), and Wittchayat Sinsrang (69).

Starting from the tenth in a shotgun format, the distinguished Jazz Janewattananond, a former Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, kicked off his round with three birdies within his first five holes and concluded with four in his last six, maintaining a strong performance with seven pars from the 15th to the third.