Theegala, Bhatia card matching 67s at Charles Schwab Challenge
Synopsis
Sahith Theegala and Akshay Bhatia both shot matching 67s on the opening day of the Charles Schwab Challenge — but the routes could not have been more different. Theegala was measured and bogey-free for 14 holes; Bhatia clawed back from two-over through seven. Three shots off the lead, the Indian-American duo have kept themselves firmly in contention at Colonial.
Key Takeaways
Sahith Theegala and Akshay Bhatia both carded 3-under 67 in round one of the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club .
The pair are tied 32nd , three shots behind a six-way lead at 6-under 64 .
Leaders include Ryan Gerard , Tom Kim , J.J.
Spaun , Andrew Putnam , Matt McCarty , and Lee Hodges .
Indo-Canadian Sudarshan Yellamaraju carded a 1-over 71 to sit tied 103rd .
Ludvig Åberg (world No.
13 ) is the best-placed marquee name at 4-under 66 , tied 19th .
Sahith Theegala and Akshay Bhatia, two Indian-American golfers on the PGA Tour, opened the Charles Schwab Challenge with identical rounds of 3-under 67 at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas on 29 May. The pair sit tied for 32nd place after day one, three shots adrift of a six-way lead on a tightly-bunched leaderboard.
Leaderboard at the Top
Six players — Ryan Gerard, Andrew Putnam, Tom Kim, J.J. Spaun, Matt McCarty, and Lee Hodges — share the lead at 6-under 64. Spaun, the world No. 9 and the highest-ranked player in the field, delivered a flawless 64 to continue his consistent form. Russell Henley and Sweden's Ludvig Åberg, ranked 12th and 13th respectively, are tied 19th at 4-under 66.
Theegala's Composed Return
Theegala, who has been working his way back from injury setbacks earlier in the season, produced a controlled and encouraging display. Starting on the front nine, he stayed bogey-free through his first 14 holes, picking up birdies on the 1st, 6th, and 11th. A bogey on the 15th briefly interrupted his rhythm, but he recovered with a closing birdie on the 18th to card a 67. The round underscores the steady progress of the former PGA Tour winner, whose career-best world ranking reached No. 11.
Bhatia's Comeback Round
Bhatia's route to the same score was far less linear. The left-hander found himself over par after back-to-back bogeys on the 6th and 7th holes, before clawing one back with a birdie on the 9th. He found his footing on the inward half, making birdies on the 11th and 15th, then closing with consecutive birdies on the 17th and 18th to finish at 3-under alongside Theegala.
Yellamaraju Struggles on Day One
Indo-Canadian Sudarshan Yellamaraju endured a difficult opening round, carding a 1-over 71 to sit tied 103rd. He dropped a shot on the 4th and suffered a double bogey on the 5th, before birdies on the 9th and 12th offered some relief. A further bogey on the 14th pushed him back over par, though a birdie on the 17th helped limit the damage.
Other Notable Scorecards
Japan's Keita Nakajima — a former Hero Indian Open champion — and Justin Thomas both carded 1-under 69, placing them tied 57th. Among the marquee names, Åberg remains the best-placed at 4-under, two shots off the pace. With the leaderboard tightly packed through the first round, the second day at Colonial is set to be decisive in shaping the weekend contenders.
Point of View
But the more significant story is the divergence in their paths to that number. Theegala's disciplined, bogey-free stretch through 14 holes reflects a player rebuilding confidence after injury; Bhatia's back-nine charge is the hallmark of a risk-tolerant, attacking game. Three shots off the lead is a recoverable gap at Colonial, but the weekend will test whether either can sustain pressure against a leaderboard stacked with consistent ball-strikers. Yellamaraju's difficult start, meanwhile, highlights the step-up in conditions at PGA Tour level for a young Indo-Canadian still finding his footing.
NationPress
7 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What scores did Sahith Theegala and Akshay Bhatia shoot in round one of the Charles Schwab Challenge?
Both Theegala and Bhatia carded 3-under 67 in the opening round of the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club on 29 May. They are tied 32nd, three shots behind the six-way lead at 6-under 64.
Who leads the Charles Schwab Challenge after round one?
Six players share the lead at 6-under 64: Ryan Gerard, Andrew Putnam, Tom Kim, J.J. Spaun, Matt McCarty, and Lee Hodges. Spaun, the world No. 9 and highest-ranked player in the field, delivered a flawless round.
How did Sudarshan Yellamaraju perform in the first round?
Indo-Canadian Sudarshan Yellamaraju had a difficult opening day, carding a 1-over 71 to sit tied 103rd. He dropped shots early with a bogey on the 4th and a double bogey on the 5th, and birdies on the 9th, 12th, and 17th were not enough to recover fully.
Where is the Charles Schwab Challenge being played?
The Charles Schwab Challenge is being played at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, USA. It is a PGA Tour event held annually at the same historic venue.
How does Akshay Bhatia's round compare to Sahith Theegala's at Colonial?
Both finished at 3-under 67, but their routes differed sharply. Theegala was steady and bogey-free through 14 holes before a lone bogey on the 15th. Bhatia went two-over through seven holes before rallying with four birdies on the back nine, including two consecutive closing birdies.
