Jamal Hossain Leads Coal India Open at 12-Under

Jamal Hossain carded a seven-under 63 to take a two-shot lead in the Coal India Open at Tollygunge Club in Kolkata on Thursday. The 41-year-old Bangladeshi golfer moved to 12-under 128 after an eventful round featuring seven birdies, an eagle and two bogeys.

Hossain began his second round three shots behind first-round leader Om Prakash Chouhan and was tied for fifth when heavy rain forced the suspension of play on Wednesday. He returned on Thursday to complete his remaining holes, when he moved clear of the field.

The tournament has been reduced to 54 holes following the weather disruptions. The third and final round will be played on Friday with a shotgun start.

Delhi’s Kshitij Naveed Kaul, who held the clubhouse lead overnight, moved to second place at 10-under 130. Chandigarh’s Akshay Sharma and Ajeetesh Sandhu shared third place at nine-under 131.

Two chip-ins, on the eighth and par-five 13th, were among the highlights of Hossain’s round. His chip-in on the 13th resulted in an eagle and helped him take control of the tournament.

Hossain credited his driving for helping him handle the wet conditions. He estimated that he missed only two or three fairways during the round.

Hossain, currently 12th in the DP World PGTI Rankings, has previously won at Tollygunge Club and feels particularly comfortable at the Kolkata venue. He also has recent experience of winning a weather-shortened event, having captured the 2025 Tel event.

The current DP World PGTI Rankings leader Saptak Talwar, first-round leader and 2023 rankings champion Om Prakash Chouhan, and University of South Florida graduate Shubham Jaglan shared fifth place at eight-under 132.

Hossain’s most fortunate moment came on the par-three 18th, where his five-iron tee shot headed right and struck the out-of-bounds boundary before rebounding into the course. He took advantage of the reprieve by getting up and down for par.

Hossain will look to maintain his lead in the final round on Friday. With his experience and comfort at Tollygunge Club, he is well-placed to win the tournament.

The Coal India Open is a significant event on the DP World PGTI calendar, and a win for Hossain would be a major boost to his career. The tournament has attracted a strong field, and the final round is expected to be closely contested.

In the end, Hossain’s ability to adapt to the wet conditions and his experience at Tollygunge Club may prove to be the deciding factors in the tournament.

The final round will be played on Friday, and the winner will be crowned the champion of the Coal India Open 2026.

The significance of this event cannot be overstated, as it provides a platform for golfers to showcase their skills and compete at the highest level. The Coal India Open is an important part of the golfing calendar, and the winner will be rewarded with a significant prize and a boost to their rankings.