Rajesh Kumar Gautam Triumphs at PGTI NexGen Gurugram with Steady 72
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Synopsis
Lucknow's Rajesh Kumar Gautam, a rookie golfer in the PGTI and a current Indian Army member, achieved a two-shot victory with a final round of even-par 72 at the PGTI NexGen Gurugram 2025, held at Golden Greens Golf & Polo Club.
Key Takeaways
- Rajesh Kumar Gautam secured his first professional victory.
- He finished with a total score of nine-under 207.
- Rajesh earned INR 2,54,300 as the winner's prize.
- The next tournament is the PGTI NexGen Kapurthala.
- Top 60 players from the previous year are ineligible for this year's NexGen Tour.
Gurugram, March 13 (NationPress) Rajesh Kumar Gautam from Lucknow, a newcomer on the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) and currently serving in the Indian Army, delivered a consistent final round score of even-par 72, clinching a two-shot victory in the PGTI NexGen Gurugram 2025 at the Golden Greens Golf & Polo Club on Thursday.
Rajesh concluded the tournament with a total score of nine-under 207, marking the season's inaugural event for the NexGen series.
The 35-year-old golfer (69-66-72), who entered the final round as the leader by three strokes, achieved five birdies alongside five bogeys on Thursday, securing his first professional victory. His win comes with a prize of INR 2,54,300, placing him at the top of the PGTI NEXGEN Order of Merit.
Rajiv Kumar Jatiwal from Chandigarh (65-73-71) finished in second place with a score of seven-under 209 after posting a 71 on the final round.
Sourav Choudhary (71-72-68) from Mhow registered the best score of the day with a 68, moving up eight positions to conclude the tournament in third place at five-under 211.
Rajesh Kumar Gautam's front nine was marked by four birdies and three bogeys, featuring an impressive chip from the bunker on the ninth hole that set up an easy tap-in birdie. On the back nine, he added one more birdie and two bogeys, consistently placing his shots within three to four feet of the pin.
“Although my driving wasn’t at its best and I struggled to hit my target regulations, I maintained my lead thanks to precise iron shots and excellent putting. I was consistently landing my shots close to the flags. Winning in only my second tournament as a professional boosts my confidence immensely,” Rajesh expressed.
On Wednesday, Rajesh followed a three-under 69 in his opening round with an impressive six-under 66, leading by three strokes with a total of nine-under 135 after the second round. He made six birdies without any errors on Wednesday, advancing two spots from his tied third position.
The next event in the three-event series will be the PGTI NexGen Kapurthala, taking place from March 18 to 20 at the RCF Golf Club in Kapurthala. The final event for the season, the Phillaur Open, is scheduled for March 25 to 27 at the Ranjitgarh Golf Club in Phillaur.
It’s important to note that the top 60 players from the 2024 PGTI Order of Merit will not be eligible to participate in the NexGen Tour for 2025. The victor of this year’s NexGen Order of Merit will gain an exemption for the main tour (PGTI) in the 2026 season.
