Kochhar, Kartik Singh in contention at IGPL Bharath Classic as Thai duo leads
Synopsis
Two Indian golfers sit four shots off the pace at the IGPL Bharath Classic in Morocco — but the real story is a Thai duo dominating the leaderboard, with Prakongvech reversing a five-cut miss streak with a flawless 65. For Kochhar, a breakthrough Asian Tour win is tantalizingly close.
Key Takeaways
Karandeep Kochhar and Kartik Singh share fifth place at five-under par after Round 2 of the IGPL Bharath Classic .
Thailand's Settee Prakongvech and Runchanapong Youprayong lead jointly at nine-under par at Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort, El Jadida .
Prakongvech fired a bogey-free 65 on Day 2 after missing five consecutive cuts prior to this event.
Notable Indian cuts: SSP Chawrasia , Milind Soni , and M.
Dharma missed by one shot; Varun Parikh and Aryan Roopa Anand by two.
The Bharath Classic is part of the Asian Tour's three-week Morocco swing .
Indian golfers Karandeep Kochhar and Kartik Singh are firmly in the hunt at the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) Bharath Classic after the second round at Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort in El Jadida, Morocco, sitting four shots off the pace in testing windy conditions. Both players share fifth place at five-under par as the tournament heads into the weekend.
Leaderboard After Round Two
Thailand's Settee Prakongvech and Runchanapong Youprayong share the lead at nine-under par. Prakongvech delivered a bogey-free seven-under 65 on Day 2 after an opening 70, while overnight leader Runchanapong followed his first-round 65 with a 70, surviving a double bogey-bogey stretch to retain a share of the top spot.
Austria's Niklas Regner (66-72) and Thailand's Ekpharit Wu (71-67) are tied for third at six-under. Joining Kochhar and Kartik at five-under are the Philippines' Lloyd Jefferson Go, American MJ Maguire, Sweden's Charlie Lindh, South Africa's Ian Snyman, and New Zealand's Nick Voke.
Kochhar's Round and Reaction
Kochhar, who has recorded six top-five finishes on the Asian Tour including two this season, carded a one-over 73 after his opening-round 66, bringing his tournament total to five-under. The Chandigarh golfer started on the 10th hole, was one-under through 12 holes, and relied on late birdies to stay near the top despite the difficult conditions.
'I got a little unlucky on the last. Just had a small putt of four-odd feet. I thought I hit a good putt, but it just went the other way,' Kochhar said. 'Definitely, don't want to finish with a three-putt on the last, but I still think I played really well. Maybe I missed two small putts coming in. Would have loved to have those two short putts back, but other than that, I'm not too concerned. The putting actually has been very good because I've worked on it a lot over the weekend.'
Teenager Kartik Singh matched Kochhar's position, backing up an opening 70 with a second-round 69 to sit at five-under.
Other Indian Performances
Amateur Jai Bahl (71-72) and Yashas Chandra (75-68) are tied at one-under. Shaurya Bhattacharya (70-74) and Raghav Chugh (70-74) are tied 40th at even par. Experienced campaigners Gaganjeet Bhullar (75-70), Pukhraj Singh Gill (74-71), and Rashid Khan (74-71) are tied 49th, while Udayan Mane (70-76), Sachin Baisoya (72-74), and Aman Raj (72-74) are tied 61st.
Notable Indian players to miss the cut include SSP Chawrasia, Milind Soni, and M. Dharma — all by a single shot — while Varun Parikh and Aryan Roopa Anand missed out by two strokes.
Tournament Context
Morocco's Ayoub Lguirati emerged as the leading home player after a 67 moved him into a tie for 12th place at four-under. Notably, Prakongvech arrived at the tournament having missed five consecutive cuts, making his bogey-free 65 a significant form reversal. The Bharath Classic is part of the Asian Tour's three-week swing in Morocco, with the final rounds set to determine whether Kochhar can claim the breakthrough Asian Tour win that has so far eluded him.
Point of View
And his own admission of missed short putts points to a mental edge question more than a technical one. The Thai dominance at the top is also a reminder that the Asian Tour's Indian contingent, despite home-circuit advantages, is still chasing a consistency gap against Southeast Asian rivals. With two rounds left and only four shots separating Kochhar from the lead, this is the kind of window that defines careers — or confirms the ceiling.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the IGPL Bharath Classic?
The IGPL Bharath Classic is a professional golf tournament on the Asian Tour, held at Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort in El Jadida, Morocco. It is part of the Asian Tour's three-week swing in Morocco.
Where do Karandeep Kochhar and Kartik Singh stand after Round 2?
Both Indian golfers share fifth place at five-under par, four shots behind the joint leaders. Kochhar carded rounds of 66 and 73, while Kartik Singh posted 70 and 69.
Who leads the IGPL Bharath Classic after two rounds?
Thailand's Settee Prakongvech and Runchanapong Youprayong share the lead at nine-under par. Prakongvech shot a bogey-free 65 in Round 2, while Runchanapong held on despite a double bogey-bogey stretch.
Which Indian players missed the cut at the Bharath Classic?
SSP Chawrasia, Milind Soni, and M. Dharma all missed the cut by a single shot, while Varun Parikh and Aryan Roopa Anand missed by two strokes.
How has Karandeep Kochhar performed on the Asian Tour this season?
Kochhar has recorded six top-five finishes on the Asian Tour, including two in the current season, but is still seeking his first breakthrough victory on the circuit.
