Ahmedabad, Jan 21 (NationPress) The 17-year-old amateur Pritish Singh Karayat delivered an outstanding performance with a three-under 69 during the second round, securing his position at the top of Pre-Qualifying II in the PGTI Qualifying School 2026 held at the Kensville Golf & Country Club in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.

Karayat (65-69), representing the Delhi Golf Club, concluded the tournament with an impressive total of 10-under 134, finishing a remarkable six shots ahead of his competitors. Out of 135 participants in Pre-Qualifying II, the top 38 players advanced to the Final Qualifying Stage, as the cut was set at five-over 149.

Pritish, who started the day with a five-shot lead, achieved four birdies and one bogey in his round of 69, demonstrating his dominance at Pre Q II. Having represented India at both junior and amateur levels and achieved notable success on the amateur circuit, Pritish converted several crucial 10 to 12-foot putts on Wednesday.

“I executed solid tee shots and maintained good regulation throughout the day. The only setback was missing a few opportunities on the greens, as I experienced five lip-outs. However, my strong start in round one put me in a favorable rhythm, allowing me to remain relaxed on the course today. Winning by such a significant margin boosts my confidence heading into the Final Stage,” said Pritish.

Amateur Mahir Rakha (73-67) secured second place with a total of four-under 140, while seasoned pro Gurki Shergill (70-71) finished one shot behind in third. Notably, Nazir Ali from Kolkata, despite missing the cut for the Final Stage, achieved a hole-in-one on the 11th hole during his second round of 73.

The Qualifying School, which kicks off the PGTI season, is among the most crucial events on the PGTI calendar, as it serves as the sole pathway for players to qualify for participation in the PGTI for the season. The tournament sets the criteria for players for the entire year.

This year’s event commenced with over 450 golfers, and in addition to Indian participants, it includes 39 golfers from various countries.

The First Stage of the Qualifying School consists of three 36-hole events: Pre-Qualifying I, Pre-Qualifying II, and Pre-Qualifying III. Pre-Qualifying I took place on January 17-18, followed by Pre-Qualifying II on January 20-21, with Pre-Qualifying III scheduled for January 23-24.

A total of 77 players from the First Stage (Pre-Qualifying) will progress to the Final Stage, where they will join exempt players from previous seasons. The Final Stage is set to occur from January 27-30.

At the conclusion of the Final Stage, the top qualifiers meeting the specific cut-off will secure their full cards for the 2026 PGTI season. The Final Stage boasts a total prize purse of INR 10 lakh.