In a gripping final-day comeback, Delhi-based rookie Shaurya Bhattacharya clinched his maiden professional title at the INR 50 lakh J&K Open 2024, presented by J&K Tourism, held at the Jammu Tawi Golf Course. The 21-year-old, in his debut season on the PGTI, fired an error-free three-under 69, the lowest score of the round, to total 10-under 278, becoming the first rookie to win on the PGTI in five years.
Bhattacharya, who began the final day three strokes behind leader Kartik Sharma of Gurugram, demonstrated exceptional precision with his tee shots and approach play. A crucial 30-foot birdie on the sixth hole and a six-foot par save on the eighth kept him close to the lead. On the 15th, a skillful approach shot set up a four-foot birdie, keeping him in striking range.
A turning point came on the 16th hole, where Shaurya’s 15-foot birdie putt coincided with Kartik’s bogey after finding the hazard, leveling the scores. Kartik, who led for most of the day, faltered with bogeys on his final three holes, including another hazard on the 18th, finishing at eight-under 280. This stumble cleared the way for Shaurya’s victory, as Kolkata’s Mohammad Sanju claimed third place with a five-under 283.
Reflecting on his triumph, Shaurya said, “Today, I aimed to be more aggressive and used my driver on the 15th and 16th tees instead of a 3-iron, which helped set up my birdies and put me in the lead. This win gives me immense confidence—I now have a clearer sense of my game’s potential.” Shaurya’s victory lifts him 21 spots in the TATA Steel PGTI Ranking, a significant leap from 47th to 26th position.
Expressing gratitude, he added, “The Jammu Tawi Golf Course provided excellent playing conditions this week, and I’m thankful to J&K Tourism for their support in hosting this event.”
