Mumbai, Nov 21 (NationPress) Pranavi Urs's remarkable final round of 8-under during the last day of the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) Invitational Mumbai at the Bombay Presidency Golf Club has catapulted her into superstar status within Indian golf, as she is now the first Indian woman golfer to claim a title while competing against men in a mixed field.

Among the few women in the tournament, Pranavi, participating in her inaugural IGPL event, began the final day two strokes behind the leader, Karandeep Kochhar, who also happens to be her boyfriend. She triumphed, outperforming the field by two shots, despite Kochhar finishing with an eagle.

Observing from near the green, former Asian Tour player and multiple Indian Tour champion, and the CEO of IGPL, Uttam Singh Mundy, commented, “That was an outstanding round by any standard. Her confidence was palpable, and she dominated the round from around the turn, leaving no doubt in the minds of the spectators about who was the best this week.”

“From the inception of the IGPL, we often deliberated on the potential for a female pro to outperform the top male players in India. Just weeks ago, Hitaashee Bakshi shot an 8-under in Pune IGPL and secured a Top-10 finish. However, Pranavi, who shared the lead after the first round, climbed all the way to the top by the end. This is a historic achievement, and the IGPL is proud to be a part of it,” Mundy added.

Pranavi, a former winner of the Women’s Pro Golf Tour (WPGT) Order of Merit, earned Rs. 22,50,000 for her victory, while Kochhar secured second place with Rs. 15,00,000.

“She plans to treat me to dinner, but I would happily cover the bill. Watching her play the final round was an absolute delight. I would have needed to play exceptionally well to compete against her today, but her bogey-free eight-under round left us no chance,” stated Karandeep Kochhar.

Champika Sayal, Secretary-General of the Women’s Golf Association of India (WGAI) and a partner of the IGPL Tour, expressed, “Pranavi Urs's achievement as the first-ever female winner at IGPL Mumbai is a testament to her remarkable skill, experience, and commitment. Breaking barriers and making history is no easy task.”

“Pranavi's victory at IGPL serves as an inspiration for many young players, and at WGAI, we are extremely proud and moved by the performances of our female golfers,” she added. “Women golfers seeking equal pay in the sport have been acknowledged and rewarded through the Indian Golf Premier League format.”

“This groundbreaking initiative by the promoters of the IGPL deserves recognition. Kudos to IGPL for fostering equality and inclusivity in golf!” Champika Sanyal concluded.

Indian golf legend SSP Chawrasia, a six-time Asian Tour winner and four-time DP World Tour champion, had finished his final round earlier but returned to observe Pranavi's performance. He remarked, “This is an extraordinary display. Her skill and confidence were phenomenal. I would not be surprised if she secures a victory on the Ladies European Tour soon, as she has come close a few times.”

Olympian Udayan Mane, who led his team to victory in the IGPL Mumbai Pro-Am, stated, “On this day, no one could have surpassed her. Her victory is evidence that India has immense talent.”

This marks the seventh event of the IGPL Tour, currently in its inaugural year. After stops in Chandigarh, Jaypee Greens, Pune, Jaipur, Kolkata, and Jamshedpur, the Tour has now arrived in Mumbai.

Next, it will head to Ahmedabad for two events, including the Bharath Classic Golf, a million-dollar event co-sanctioned with the Asian Tour. The final two events will take place in Dubai and Colombo, followed by the IGPL league.