IGPL UAE Golf: Chawrasia Fires 65 To Lead Thrilling Debut At The Els Club Dubai

The inaugural Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) UAE, hosted by Dubai-based Shiv Kapur, a new franchise‐style golf league, got off to a thrilling start at The Els Club, with Indian golfing stalwart Shiv Shankar Prasad Chawrasia setting the pace on day one.

Chawrasia, who has racked up a solid record across Indian and international golf, carded a sparkling 7-under 65, giving him a two-shot lead over a chasing pack that includes the ever-dangerous Gaganjeet Bhullar. An Asian Games silver medalist and rising star, Kartik Singh.

Bhullar, unbeaten in his IGPL appearances, showcased flawless form with five birdies and no bogeys, highlighting his signature consistency. Kartik Singh, only 15 years old, but already making headlines in both amateur and professional ranks, matched Bhullar's impressive pace with six birdies against one bogey, securing a tie for second.

A contested leaderboard saw five players, including two women, Hitaashee Bakshi and IGPL Mumbai champion Pranavi Urs, tied for fourth at 3-under par. Karandeep Kochhar, Trishul Chinappa, and M Dharma completed the group, while young amateur Vihaan Reddy was among nine players tied for ninth at 2-under, signalling a deep field of contenders.

The Els Club, making its debut as IGPL's first international venue, tested the field with its challenging layout, yet 22 players managed to finish under par, promising an exciting week of competitive golf.

Earlier, the tournament kicked off in style with a special opening ceremony, featuring General Abdullah Al-Hashmi, President of the Emirates Golf Federation, who launched the event with a ceremonial drive from the first tee. The tournament team expressed gratitude for the federation's support, noting its key role in bringing IGPL to the UAE.

Chawrasia, reflecting on his round and the venue, said,“I love this city, where I have played a lot of European Tour events, and I enjoy the vibe here. I have a lot of friends, and the city has great golfing facilities. So, it is nice to come here with the IGPL Tour, and the 7-under round was the icing on the cake.”

As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Chawrasia to see if he can maintain his lead, or if the chasing pack, led by the relentless Bhullar and rising talent Kartik Singh, can seize the spotlight in this landmark first international IGPL event.

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