Can Jamal Hossain Maintain His Lead at the Telangana Golconda Masters?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Jamal Hossain leads with a score of nine-under 61.
- Akshay Sharma follows closely with eight-under 62.
- Weather conditions improved, providing a better playing environment.
- The tournament features a total prize pool of INR 1 crore.
- Local talent like Vishesh Sharma is also competing fiercely.
Hyderabad, Sep 23 (NationPress) Bangladesh's Jamal Hossain dazzled the crowd with a stunning nine-under 61 during the inaugural round of the NSL Luxe presents Telangana Golconda Masters 2025, a prestigious INR 1 crore event held at the Hyderabad Golf Association (HGA). This exceptional performance has placed him in a one-shot lead.
Chandigarh's Akshay Sharma also shone brightly, finishing second with an impressive eight-under 62.
Despite the heavy rainfall the night before, the weather remained clear on Tuesday, providing an excellent day for golf. The cloud cover offered a pleasant drop in temperature, bringing it down to around 25 degrees Celsius, a welcome relief compared to the previous day's heat.
Throughout his flawless round, Jamal Hossain showcased remarkable skills with his tee shots and wedges. The seasoned golfer, a five-time champion on the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), achieved five birdies on the front nine, thanks to a skilled bunker chip-in and precise wedge shots. He further added four more birdies on the back nine, including impressive 12-foot conversions on the last two holes.
The 40-year-old, currently ranked 14th on the PGTI Order of Merit with two runner-up finishes this season, commented, “I maintained consistency with my hitting and chipping today. I've been performing well lately, but I aim to string together four solid rounds moving forward. The course is in exceptional shape despite the recent heavy rains.”
Akshay Sharma's two birdie chip-ins were vital to his remarkable round of 62. He recorded seven birdies on the back nine, along with three additional birdies and two bogeys on the front nine. Tapendra Ghai from Gurugram secured third place with a score of 64.
Last week’s champion, N. Thangaraja of Sri Lanka, posted a 65, sharing the fourth position with seven others. Hyderabad's own Vishesh Sharma delivered a 68, placing him tied for 32nd and as the highest-ranked local player in the competition.
Delhi's Arjun Prasad, currently second in the PGTI merit list, carded a 69 to tie for 42nd.