Saptak Talwar ties 12th at English Open for best overseas finish this season
Synopsis
India's Saptak Talwar came within one stroke of a top-10 finish at the English Open — a tournament returning after 24 years — posting his best overseas result of the season. Meanwhile, American John Catlin needed seven playoff holes to outlast Norway's Kristian Krogh Johannessen and claim a title that puts his name alongside Montgomerie, Ballesteros, and Woosnam.
Key Takeaways
Saptak Talwar finished tied 12th at the English Open in Worcestershire on 22 June , his best result outside India this season.
Talwar closed with a four-under 68 to reach 10-under-par for the week, one shot shy of the top 10.
It is his second-best result of the season after a runner-up finish at the DP World PGTI Open in March .
American John Catlin won the title after a seven-hole playoff against Norway's Kristian Krogh Johannessen .
The English Open returned to the calendar for the first time in 24 years , with past winners including Seve Ballesteros and Colin Montgomerie .
Saptak Talwar recorded his best result outside India this season, finishing tied 12th at the English Open on the HotelPlanner Tour at The Vale Golf Club, Worcestershire, on 22 June. The 27-year-old Indian golfer closed on 10-under-par for the week, just one stroke away from a top-10 finish after a commanding final-round charge.
Talwar's Final Round
Starting the day in a share of 24th place at six-under, Talwar moved swiftly up the leaderboard with his best round of the tournament — a four-under 68. He converted five birdies against a single bogey, with gains on the 2nd, 11th, 13th, 15th, and 17th holes. A birdie on the closing 18th would have lifted him inside the top 10, but he settled for par to end tied 12th.
Season Context
The result is Talwar's best overseas finish this season and his second-best overall, behind a runner-up placing at the DP World PGTI Open in March. He had opened the week with a three-under 69, followed by rounds of 71 and 70, before his closing charge. The performance signals an encouraging return to form as the HotelPlanner Tour schedule intensifies.
Catlin Wins After Seven-Hole Playoff
American John Catlin claimed the title after a gruelling seven-hole playoff against Norway's Kristian Krogh Johannessen. Catlin posted a bogey-free five-under 67 in the final round, while Johannessen fired a flawless six-under 66 to erase a one-shot overnight deficit. The Norwegian birdied the 16th and 17th holes to draw level after Catlin had held a two-shot advantage through 15 holes.
Both players parred the 18th to trigger a playoff, then matched each other with six consecutive pars before Catlin rolled in a birdie on the seventh extra hole to seal victory. The win is also Catlin's fifth national open title.
Tournament Significance
The English Open returned to the golfing calendar for the first time in 24 years, adding fresh prestige to the HotelPlanner Tour. Past champions include Colin Montgomerie, Seve Ballesteros, Ian Woosnam, and Darren Clarke — an illustrious roll of honour that Catlin has now joined. England's Barclay Brown and Sweden's Per Längfors shared third at 13-under, while Germany's Alexander Knappe and American Jhared Hack finished tied fifth at 12-under.
For Talwar, the focus now shifts to building on this momentum through the coming weeks on the HotelPlanner Tour, where a consistent run of results could strengthen his standing on the European circuit.
Point of View
Individual performances on European feeder tours remain the primary route to higher-ranked events, making consistent overseas results like this one strategically significant beyond the scoreboard.
NationPress
22 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Saptak Talwar's result at the English Open?
Saptak Talwar finished tied 12th at the English Open on the HotelPlanner Tour in Worcestershire, closing with a four-under 68 to end the week at 10-under-par. It is his best finish outside India this season.
How close was Talwar to a top-10 finish?
Talwar missed a share of seventh place by a single stroke. A birdie on the final 18th hole would have moved him inside the top 10, but he settled for par to finish tied 12th.
Who won the English Open 2024 on the HotelPlanner Tour?
American John Catlin won the English Open after a seven-hole playoff against Norway's Kristian Krogh Johannessen. Catlin birdied the seventh extra hole to seal what is his fifth national open title.
Why is the English Open significant?
The English Open returned to the golfing calendar for the first time in 24 years, making it a historically prestigious event. Past champions include Colin Montgomerie, Seve Ballesteros, Ian Woosnam, and Darren Clarke.
What is Talwar's best result of the season overall?
Talwar's best result of the season remains a runner-up finish at the DP World PGTI Open in March. His tied-12th at the English Open is his second-best result and his best overseas finish of the season.
