How Did PGTI NEXGEN's Sanjeev Kumar Achieve His First Victory?
 
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Sanjeev Kumar achieved his first professional golf victory.
- He scored a five-under 65 in the final round of the PGTI NEXGEN event.
- The event took place at Lucknow Golf Club.
- Sanjeev’s victory earned him Rs 2,54,300.
- He rose to first place in the PGTI NEXGEN Order of Merit.
Lucknow, Sep 11 (NationPress) In a thrilling finale at the Lucknow Golf Club, Sanjeev Kumar from Lucknow clinched his first victory after an impressive five-under 65 during the final round of the PGTI NEXGEN seventh event of the season. The 33-year-old golfer, with scores of 68-70-65, finished the tournament at seven-under 203, securing a two-shot win.
Sanjeev's remarkable comeback allowed him to earn a prize of Rs 2,54,300, propelling him from third to first place in the 2025 PGTI NEXGEN Order of Merit, with total season earnings of Rs 7,08,740.
Umed Kumar, based in Chandimandir, who led by three shots after the second round, ended up with an even-par 70 on the final day, finishing as runner-up with a total of five-under 205. This performance helped Umed rise from eighth to second in the PGTI NEXGEN merit standings.
The champion of this year’s NEXGEN Order of Merit will enjoy an exemption on the main tour, PGTI, for the 2026 season. Following this event, the NEXGEN series will take a break, with the next tournament scheduled for the first week of November in Bhubaneswar.
The Lucknow Golf Club, a par-70 nine-hole course, features unique tee placements and hole locations for both the front and back nine.
Leveraging his local knowledge, Sanjeev achieved the best score of the day, a flawless bogey-free 65. His excellent putting skills were evident as he made four birdies from distances between 10 to 20 feet on the first 11 holes, with a fifth birdie on the 12th. He maintained his composure, making pars to finish ahead of Umed by two strokes.
Sanjeev, a professional golfer since 2011 with multiple previous runner-up finishes in the PGTI, expressed, “Today, I played my best golf. My hitting and putting were exceptional, and I treated this final round like any other at my home course. Knowing where to place my shots was an advantage.”
“I’ve been waiting for this title for a long time. Coming close to winning previously made this moment special, especially in front of my family and friends. I am grateful to the Lucknow Golf Club and its members for their support. Now, my goal is to finish the season ranked No. 1 in the NEXGEN standings to secure my spot on the main tour next year.”
Umed Kumar, despite starting strong with a three-shot lead, faced significant challenges with a triple-bogey on the ninth hole and a double-bogey on the 11th. Although he managed to secure five birdies on the back nine, he couldn’t recover as Sanjeev steadily climbed the leaderboard.
In third place was Kushal Singh from Gurugram, finishing with a total score of one-over 211.
 
                         
                                             
                                             
                                             
                                             
                             
                             
                             
                            