16-year-old Kartik Singh made an immediate impression in his first start on the DP World PGTI, opening with an eagle and seven birdies to sit tied second after round one of the SECL Chhattisgarh Open in Naya Raipur.
Fresh off a tied seventh finish at last week’s PGTI Qualifying School, Kartik showed no signs of nerves on debut, carding a low round that placed him right in contention in the season-opener.
“I’m feeling great about starting so well in my very first event on the PGTI,” Kartik said. “It is definitely very competitive here and I feel I need to raise my game further to contend.”
The early lead, however, belonged to Akshay Sharma, who fired a bogey-free nine-under 60 to take the clubhouse advantage at the INR 1.5 crore event. Sharma equalled the lowest score recorded at Fairway Golf & Lake Resort, matching the mark set by Khalin Joshi last year.
Sharma’s round featured five birdies on the front nine and four on the back, with two near hole-in-ones on the second and 17th holes.
“It was a dream round,” Sharma said. “Driving, iron-play and putting — everything was top-notch.”
The SECL Chhattisgarh Open is the first of three ₹1.5 crore events in the PGTI’s early-season stretch and marks the start of the 2026 domestic calendar.
Chhattisgarh Finance Minister O P Choudhary performed the ceremonial tee-off on Thursday morning and said the event was part of the state’s wider push to develop Nava Raipur as a sporting hub.
Photo – PGTI / Akshay Sharma
