Greater Noida, October 11, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Shubhankar Sharma produced a composed final-round performance to win the INR 2 crore Kapil Dev Invitational Tour Championship by six strokes at the Jaypee Greens Golf & Spa Resort in Greater Noida on Saturday.
The 30-year-old Chandigarh golfer carded a three-under 69 in the final round to finish at 14-under par. His four-round scores were 68, 65, 72 and 69. Starting the day with a two-shot lead, Sharma sealed the title with an eagle on the par-five 12th, three birdies and two bogeys.
The victory marked Sharma’s second win in as many appearances on the DP World Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) this season. His previous triumph came at the Boulders Classic in April, where he ended an eight-year wait for a professional title. He earned INR 30 lakh for the latest victory.
Italy’s Michele Ortolani (72-70-65-73) and Bengaluru’s Manoj S (70-71-66-73) shared second place at eight-under 280. Manoj’s joint runner-up finish earned him INR 16 lakh and lifted him from 26th to 17th in the Race to DP World India Championship standings, with earnings of INR 35,92,684. The result also secured his place in next week’s marquee event.
Bengaluru golfer Khalin Joshi (72-67-71-71), a four-time winner on the DP World PGTI this season, finished fourth at seven-under 281. He collected INR 9,99,600 and strengthened his position in second place in the Race to DP World India Championship, taking his season earnings to INR 77,33,825.
Eagle on 12th Proves Decisive
Sharma opened the final round with three early birdies but dropped two bogeys in the middle of the round, allowing Ortolani to narrow the gap. His bogey on the 10th further tightened the contest.
“I expected the lead to narrow unless I made a very fast start,” Sharma said. “I made two early birdies, but I wasn’t playing my best. Michele played extremely well, and then I made a poor bogey on the 10th. That was probably my worst shot of the day.”
The turning point came on the par-five 12th, where Sharma holed a putt from approximately 60 to 70 feet for an eagle despite gusty conditions.
“The eagle was a pleasant surprise and came at exactly the right moment,” he said. “I had just bogeyed the 10th, and the lead had been reduced considerably. Holing a putt from that distance gave me a huge lift and brought the momentum back in my favour.”
Sharma then relied on his short game and putting to protect his advantage over the closing holes. On the 16th, his tee shot was pushed behind a tree by the wind, forcing him to play a difficult recovery and chip from a bare lie.
“The recovery and chip from a bare lie were difficult, and the par putt wasn’t straightforward either,” he said. “My putting made the difference. I holed several crucial putts from five to 10 feet coming in, and the save on the 16th was particularly important. No lead is safe until the final putt has been holed.”
Despite the eventual six-shot winning margin, difficult pin positions and gusting winds made the closing stretch challenging.
“The course really showed its teeth, particularly with the flag positions,” Sharma said. “I had to scramble and make several up-and-downs over the closing holes, so I’m delighted to have finished the job. It was also excellent preparation for next week.”
Sharma to Lead Indian Challenge at India Championship
Sharma will now lead the Indian contingent at the US$4 million India Championship, the PGTI’s flagship tournament co-sanctioned with the DP World Tour.
The field is set to include defending champion Tommy Fleetwood, two-time Masters champion Rory McIlroy, reigning Open champion Ryan Fox, former Masters champions Patrick Reed and Bubba Watson, along with several other winners on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour.
“The DP World Tour has been my home for the past nine years, so I’m looking forward to welcoming many of my friends to India,” Sharma said. “It will also be an opportunity to showcase one of the country’s finest and most historic golf courses.”
He also spoke about the significance of returning to compete on the PGTI circuit, where he developed as a professional golfer.
“I grew up on the PGTI Tour and have so many friends here,” he said. “I play abroad for much of the year, but the friendship and camaraderie I experience here are difficult to find anywhere else. That comfort probably contributes to the good form I produce whenever I return.”
Gurugram’s Harman Sachdeva (74-70-67-71) and Chandigarh’s Yuvraj Sandhu (71-69-69-73), the 2025 PGTI Order of Merit champion, shared fifth place at six-under 282.
Saptak Talwar Retains Top Spot in Race
Saptak Talwar, leader of the Race to India Championship, recorded his only under-par round of the week with a 70 to climb from tied 25th to tied 16th at one-over 289.
Talwar earned INR 2,86,733 and retained the top position in the season-long standings with earnings of INR 99,69,017.
Viraj Madappa stood 24th in the Race to India Championship standings after the Kapil Dev Invitational Tour Championship, with season earnings of INR 24,90,042. He was the last player to qualify for the India Championship through the current PGTI Order of Merit.
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