Phillaur (Punjab), March 5 (NationPress) Rajesh Kumar Gautam triumphed in a thrilling three-way playoff at the PGTI Phillaur Open 2026 held at the Ranjitgarh Golf Club.

The Lucknow-based Armyman Rajesh Kumar Gautam (70-67-70) outperformed Pankaj Maandiya (68-70-69) and Aditya Raj Singh Chahal (69-69-69) in an exciting playoff that extended to three additional holes after all three concluded the standard 54 holes with identical scores of six-under 207.

Rajesh, who was tied for the lead overnight, recorded a one-under 70 in the final round, which included three birdies and two bogeys, before clinching victory on the third playoff hole with a birdie.

Pankaj Maandiya and Aditya Raj Singh Chahal, both tied for third overnight and just one stroke behind the leader, shot two-under 69s in the final round, qualifying them for the playoff alongside Rajesh.

Aditya's bid for victory ended on the first playoff hole, where he made par while Rajesh and Pankaj both converted birdies. The second playoff hole saw Rajesh and Pankaj both make pars, but on the crucial third playoff hole, Rajesh secured the win with a birdie, as Pankaj made par after struggling in the rough.

This victory marked Rajesh's second win on the NexGen Tour, earning him a prize of Rs 3,17,875, which propelled him to third place in the 2026 DP World PGTI NexGen Order of Merit.

Aditya Raj Singh Chahal, who tied for runner-up with Pankaj Maandiya at the event, currently leads the NexGen Order of Merit with total earnings of Rs 4,87,000.

Sunny Singh finished in fourth place with a score of three-under 210.

Rajesh, who previously won on the NexGen in 2025 and finished fourth on the merit list that year, had a rollercoaster of a final round leading up to the playoff.

Gautam started with a bogey on the second hole but quickly rebounded with three consecutive birdies from the sixth to the eighth, showcasing his exceptional iron play. A bogey on the 15th hole momentarily threatened his position, but he maintained his chances with pars on the final three holes.

Rajesh commented, “My driving and iron play were exceptional this week. I also putted very well today. Despite a rough start in the final round, I focused on getting close to the flag to keep my chances alive. The playoff was nerve-wracking, but I managed to stay composed and come through in the end.”

“This victory serves as a significant confidence booster for me and sets my sights on winning the NexGen Order of Merit this year, which would help me secure a place on the main tour for the next season. I am grateful to the 60 Engineer Regiment, my unit in the Indian Army, for their unwavering support.”

Swatanter Kumar, a professional from Phillaur, completed the tournament tied for 36th at seven-over 220.