J&K Open 2026: Khalin Joshi leads by seven shots at Royal Springs halfway mark
Synopsis
Khalin Joshi has turned the J&K Open 2026 into a one-man show. A bogey-free 66 at Royal Springs — capped by a 20-foot eagle putt on the seventh — has blown the field apart, leaving the Bengaluru golfer seven clear at halfway with only one dropped shot in 36 holes. The title looks his to lose.
Key Takeaways
Khalin Joshi leads the ₹1 crore J&K Open 2026 by seven shots at 13-under 129 after round two at Royal Springs Golf Course, Srinagar .
His second-round 66 was bogey-free, featuring three birdies and an eagle on the par-five seventh.
Joshi has dropped only one shot across 36 holes ; his sole bogey came on the 17th in round one.
Rashid Khan and Angad Cheema share second place at six-under 136 , seven adrift.
The cut fell at one-over 143 , with 50 of 131 players making it to the weekend.
The par-four 11th was converted to a par-three due to waterlogging from pre-tournament rain.
Khalin Joshi fired a bogey-free five-under 66 on Wednesday, 5 August 2026, to stretch his lead to a commanding seven shots at 13-under 129 after the second round of the ₹1 crore J&K Open 2026 at the Royal Springs Golf Course in Srinagar. The Bengaluru-based golfer, who opened with a stunning 63 on day one, has now dropped only a single shot across 36 holes.
How the Round Unfolded
Joshi, 33, started from the 10th tee and wasted little time building on his overnight two-shot lead. He picked up his first birdie on the 12th hole, sticking a five-iron to within two feet of the pin. A six-foot conversion on the 13th followed, before another birdie on the third — where a lob wedge landed three feet from the cup — kept the momentum going.
The round's defining moment arrived at the par-five seventh, where Joshi split the fairway with his drive, then struck a seven-iron from roughly 190 yards to 20 feet and drained the eagle putt. 'That was one of the best putts I made all day,' Joshi said. 'I struck the ball solidly and gave myself more chances than I did yesterday, but I didn't convert as many. Considering how well I hit the ball, I probably could have shot a little lower score, but I'm very pleased, especially to keep the card bogey-free.'
The Leaderboard at Halfway
Delhi's Rashid Khan and Chandigarh's Angad Cheema share second place at six-under 136 after both returned matching 68-68 scorecards. Khan is a two-time Asian Tour winner, while Cheema was runner-up at the Boulders Classic in April.
A four-way tie for fourth at five-under 137 features the Czech Republic's Stepan Danek (68-69), Noida's Gaurav Pratap Singh (68-69), Chandigarh's Ajeetesh Sandhu (65-72), and Joshua Seale (69-68). Gurugram rookie Harman Sachdeva, 18, who posted the only bogey-free card on day one, slipped six places to tied eighth at four-under 138. PGTI Ranking leader Saptak Talwar, fresh from a summer on the HotelPlanner Tour, dropped to tied 23rd at two-under 140.
Course Conditions and the Cut
Heavy rain ahead of the tournament forced organisers to shorten the par-four 11th hole to a par-three due to waterlogging. The cut fell at one-over 143, with 50 of 131 players advancing to the final two rounds.
Joshi's Strategy and the Srinagar Setting
Joshi, a former Asian Tour winner who claimed the Andhra Open Golf Championship in April, is keeping his game plan straightforward heading into the weekend. 'The strategy will remain simple. The rough is quite thick, so hitting fairways will be the key,' he said. 'I'll continue giving myself birdie opportunities and hopefully convert a few more putts over the next two rounds.'
The golfer has also been taken by the atmosphere at Royal Springs, including the occasional wildlife encounter. 'It's exciting to see the bears, although keeping a safe distance is important,' he said. 'The scenery here is unbelievable, so I'm enjoying the atmosphere and the fact that I'm playing good golf.' With a seven-shot cushion and his ball-striking in fine form, Joshi will be heavy favourite to claim his second title of the 2026 season over the final two rounds.
Point of View
Including two-time Asian Tour winner Rashid Khan, has not come close to matching. The real question heading into the weekend is whether anyone can manufacture the kind of low-round pressure needed to unsettle a player this deep in the zone — and on current evidence, that looks unlikely.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Khalin Joshi's score at the halfway stage of the J&K Open 2026?
Khalin Joshi is at 13-under 129 after two rounds, leading the field by seven shots. He shot a 63 in round one and followed it with a bogey-free 66 on day two at Royal Springs Golf Course in Srinagar.
Who are Khalin Joshi's closest challengers at the J&K Open 2026?
Rashid Khan of Delhi and Angad Cheema of Chandigarh share second place at six-under 136, seven shots behind Joshi. Both returned matching 68-68 scorecards through the first two rounds.
What was the defining moment of Joshi's second round?
Joshi's eagle on the par-five seventh hole was the round's highlight. He drove the fairway, hit a seven-iron from 190 yards to 20 feet, and holed the eagle putt — a moment he described as 'one of the best putts I made all day.'
What are the course conditions at Royal Springs Golf Course?
Heavy rain before the tournament caused waterlogging on the 11th hole, which was shortened from a par-four to a par-three. Joshi has also noted that the rough is thick, making fairway accuracy the critical factor for the weekend rounds.
What is the prize money for the J&K Open 2026?
The J&K Open 2026 carries a total prize purse of ₹1 crore. The tournament is being played at Royal Springs Golf Course in Srinagar, with 50 of the original 131 players advancing past the cut at one-over 143.
