Dubai, Dec 11 (NationPress) Karandeep Kochhar has clinched his first title on the IGPL Tour with a challenging victory at the IGPL Invitational UAE, hosted by Shiv Kapur.

Kochhar triumphed over young Veer Ganapathy and Pukhraj Singh at the Els Club in Dubai during the tenth event of this inaugural IGPL season.

A recent champion on the Asian Development Tour, Kochhar redeemed himself after finishing as a runner-up at the IGPL Invitational Kolkata, while Ganapathy continues to seek his first professional win, falling just short yet again.

Kochhar maintained a steady performance, scoring a third consecutive 3-under 69, totaling 9-under. Despite appearing to be on track for a solid victory, Ganapathy faced disappointment with a costly triple bogey on the Par-4 14th hole, finishing with an even par 72, just one shot behind Kochhar.

Also tying for second was Pukhraj, the victor of IGPL Jamshedpur, who carded a 2-under 70 and ended with an 8-under total, just behind the winner.

Pranavi Urs, who made history at IGPL Mumbai by defeating Kochhar for second place, secured fourth position with a 1-under 71, accumulating 7-under over the 54 holes. She became the first woman to win on the IGPL Tour while competing against male players.

Gaganjeet Bhullar saw his winning streak halted, finishing fifth after a round of 71 for a total of 6-under, following previous rounds of 67-72. Bhullar had previously won every time he participated in his last three IGPL events.

The tournament host Shiv Kapur (72) shared the 16th position with Ridhima Dilawari (75), both finishing at 1-under. Jeev Milkha Singh, fresh off a runner-up finish at the European Legends Tour in Mauritius, shot 73 and placed tied for 18th in his first IGPL Tour appearance.

Teen prodigy Kartik Singh (71), legend SSP Chawrasia (72), and rookie pro Raghav Chugh (72) are all tied for sixth, each still pursuing their first IGPL Tour victory, with one more event to play in Colombo.

Order of Merit leader Aman Raj (73) tied with Hitaashee Bakshi, who showcased her skills with a stunning 6-under 66, and Yashas Chandra from Mysuru, who shot 71, finishing at 4-under.

Four players, Sachin Baisoya (67), Harendra Gupta (68), Kartik Sharna (70), and Gaurav Ghei (72), shared the 12th spot.

During the second round, Gill, Kochhar, and Urs were trailing behind Ganapathy. With a two-shot lead, Ganapathy looked poised for victory, but it ultimately slipped away on the back nine.

Starting the final round two shots behind the leader Ganapathy, Kochhar played consistently. With three birdies in the first eight holes, he applied pressure on the young Bengaluru player.

Although Kochhar dropped a bogey on the ninth, he managed to secure birdies on the 13th and 14th. Despite another bogey on the 15th, he concluded with three pars.

Ganapathy’s chances were significantly impacted on the 14th, where he recorded a triple bogey, dropping from 11-under to 8-under. Interestingly, Kochhar birdied the 14th, creating a four-shot swing that altered the dynamics of the competition.

Ganapathy's day began shakily with a double bogey; however, he regained the lead with two birdies and an eagle on the Par-5 fifth hole, followed by a birdie on the eighth. Unfortunately, his only mistake on the back nine was the triple bogey on the 14th, which dashed his hopes, while Kochhar continued to play without major errors.

Pranavi's thrilling final round featured six birdies, with two on the front nine and four on the back, although she also tallied four bogeys on the front and one on the back, finishing with an overall score of 71.