Shaurya Bhattacharya Leads Kolar Open by 2 Shots

Shaurya Bhattacharya shot a one-under 71 to retain a two-shot lead after the third round of the Kolar Open presented by ZION Hills Golf County.

The 23-year-old Delhi golfer began the day three strokes clear and followed his opening rounds of 68 and 67 with a one-under 71 to reach 10-under 206.

Chandigarh’s Angad Cheema and Hyderabad’s Mohd Azhar shared second place at eight-under 208. Cheema made the strongest move among Bhattacharya’s nearest challengers, returning a five-under 67 to climb into contention.

Azhar stayed in the hunt with a two-under 70. The Czech Republic’s Stepan Danek produced the lowest round of the day, firing a bogey-free nine-under 63 featuring nine birdies.

Bangladesh’s Badal Hossain occupied fifth place at six-under 210, while Gurugram’s Veer Ahlawat was sixth at five-under 211.

Bhattacharya’s round was played in testing weather, with rain and strong winds making the back nine particularly demanding.

The three-time DP World PGTI winner struck the ball well but missed two short putts during the closing stretch.

A birdie on the final hole provided a timely lift and allowed him to restore a two-shot cushion ahead of Sunday’s final round.

Bhattacharya does not plan to alter the approach that has kept him at the top of the leaderboard through the first three days.

Current DP World PGTI Rankings leader Saptak Talwar improved from tied ninth to seventh place at three-under 213.

Defending champion Kshitij Naveed Kaul of Delhi made one of the day’s biggest moves, with his six-under 66 lifting him from tied 22nd to a share of eighth place at two-under 214.

The tournament is supported by Title Partner ZION Hills Golf County, DP World PGTI’s Umbrella Partner DP World, alongside Tour Partner.

Bhattacharya will look to maintain his lead in the final round and claim the title.

The Kolar Open is a significant event in the Indian golf calendar, with a prize purse of INR 1 crore.

The tournament has attracted top golfers from across the country and abroad, making it a competitive and exciting event.

As the final round approaches, Bhattacharya will face stiff competition from his challengers, but his consistent performance so far makes him a strong contender for the title.

The outcome of the tournament will be closely watched by golf enthusiasts and fans, who will be eager to see who emerges victorious.

In the end, Bhattacharya’s ability to handle pressure and perform under challenging conditions will be crucial in determining the winner of the Kolar Open.