Saptak Talwar sits Tied-12th after Round 3 at Blot Play9 in France
Synopsis
Saptak Talwar, India's top-ranked golfer on the PGTI Tour this season, sits Tied-12th at the Blot Play9 in France with one round left — close enough to a top-10 finish that could open a second direct pathway to the DP World Tour. England's John Gough leads at 12-under after a bogey-free 66.
Key Takeaways
Saptak Talwar carded an even-par 70 in Round 3 of the Blot Play9 , sitting Tied-12th at 5-under with one round remaining.
Talwar holds two routes to the DP World Tour : as PGTI Tour rankings leader and via a top-15 finish on the Hotel Planner Tour .
He is currently inside the Top-20 on the Road to Mallorca standings.
Englishman John Gough leads at 12-under after a bogey-free 66 ; Maxence Giboudot and Joseba Torres trail by two at 10-under .
The final round is scheduled for 29 June at Pléneuf, France .
India's Saptak Talwar carded an even-par 70 in the third round of the Blot Play9 on the Hotel Planner Tour at Pléneuf, France on 28 June, recording three birdies and three bogeys to sit at 5-under for the tournament and hold a Tied-12th position heading into the final round. The result keeps the Indian golfer firmly in contention for a coveted top-10 finish.
Talwar's Two Pathways to the DP World Tour
The stakes for Talwar extend well beyond this week's leaderboard. As the current leader on the DP World PGTI Tour rankings this season, he already holds one route to the DP World Tour — the top-ranked PGTI player earns a berth into the main tour the following season. A top-15 finish on the Hotel Planner Tour also guarantees a DP World Tour card, giving Talwar a second pathway. He is currently placed inside the Top-20 on the Hotel Planner's promotion standings, known as the Road to Mallorca.
Talwar has been splitting his schedule between the PGTI and the Hotel Planner Tour this season. His earlier rounds of 68 and 67 on the par-70 course at Pléneuf had placed him near the top of the field, and while Saturday's even-par effort was not the moving-day charge he may have hoped for, it keeps him within striking distance of the top-10 with 18 holes remaining.
Gough Takes Solo Lead Into Final Round
Englishman John Gough will carry a solo lead into Sunday's final round after firing a bogey-free 66 — four-under on the day — to reach 12-under for the week. Gough had shared the lead entering round three but failed to make a gain on his opening eight holes, only to pull clear as the day progressed. He is yet to claim his maiden Hotel Planner Tour title, though he finished fourth at last year's edition of this same event in Brittany, carding a closing 63 that matched his joint-best finish of that season.
Chasing Pack Closes In
Home favourite Maxence Giboudot and Spain's Joseba Torres share second place at 10-under, two strokes behind Gough. Giboudot signed for a 63 — joint lowest round of the week — after birdying two of his final three holes. Torres was equally impressive, mixing four birdies and an eagle while dropping just one shot in a round of 65.
South Africa's Bryce Easton and Spain's Pablo Ereño are tied fourth at 8-under, while Denmark's Frederik Kjettrup and American Charles Huntzinger sit one shot further back at 7-under.
What Sunday Holds for Talwar
With a five-shot gap between Talwar and the leader, a top-10 finish remains achievable but will require a low final round. A strong Sunday would not only improve his Hotel Planner Tour standings on the Road to Mallorca but also reinforce his credentials as India's most prominent golfer on the European developmental circuit this season. The final round tees off at Pléneuf on 29 June.
Point of View
Which speaks to the ambition and the risk-management of his season. Indian golf's developmental pipeline remains thin, and Talwar's dual-tour strategy — splitting weeks between the PGTI and the Hotel Planner circuit — is an experiment worth watching. If it works, it could become a template for the next generation of Indian golfers trying to bridge the gap between domestic rankings and European tour eligibility.
NationPress
28 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Saptak Talwar's current position at the Blot Play9?
Saptak Talwar is Tied-12th at 5-under par after three rounds of the Blot Play9 on the Hotel Planner Tour in Pléneuf, France. He carded rounds of 68, 67, and 70 on the par-70 course.
How can Talwar qualify for the DP World Tour?
Talwar has two pathways: as the current leader of the DP World PGTI Tour rankings, the top-ranked player earns a DP World Tour berth for the following season. Additionally, a top-15 finish on the Hotel Planner Tour's Road to Mallorca standings also guarantees a main-tour card.
Who leads the Blot Play9 heading into the final round?
England's John Gough leads at 12-under par after a bogey-free third-round 66. France's Maxence Giboudot and Spain's Joseba Torres are tied second, two shots back at 10-under.
What does a top-10 finish mean for Talwar at this tournament?
A top-10 finish would strengthen Talwar's position on the Road to Mallorca standings and improve his prospects of securing a Hotel Planner Tour card leading to the DP World Tour. It would also underline his status as India's leading golfer on the European developmental circuit this season.
What were the standout rounds in Round 3 of the Blot Play9?
Maxence Giboudot and John Gough produced the most notable rounds on day three. Giboudot carded a 63 — joint lowest of the week — while Gough's bogey-free 66 moved him into the outright lead at 12-under par.
