SportsPosted at: Oct 21 2026 8:13PM


Bhandarkar storms into lead with a two-shot cushion at PGTI Qualifying School

Ahmedabad, Oct 21 (UNI) Aditya Bhandarkar produced a composed three-under 69 to seize a two-shot lead after the second round of the DP World PGTI Final Qualifying Stage 2026-27 at the Kensville Golf & Country Club here on Wednesday, putting himself in a strong position in the race for a coveted playing card for the upcoming season.
The Pune-based golfer moved from overnight tied sixth to the top of the leaderboard, taking his two-round total to four-under 140 after following his opening-round 71 with a five-birdie, two-bogey effort.
Bhandarkar’s round was marked by sharp wedge play and a confident touch on the greens. He set up tap-in birdies with precise approach shots and sank two lengthy putts to underline a performance that combined scoring aggression with control in the afternoon heat.
The 37-year-old carried forward the momentum of a strong showing at last week’s Pre-Qualifying event at Vooty, where he finished second after rounds of two-under and four-under.
“I’m carrying forward the confidence and momentum from my good performance at the Pre-Qualifying event last week, where I shot rounds of two-under and four-under to finish second. Today, I was quite calm through the round, stayed in the moment and handled the hot conditions in the afternoon really well by staying hydrated,” Bhandarkar said.
While Bhandarkar surged ahead, overnight leader Md Siddikur Rahman of Bangladesh surrendered ground with a one-over 73 to slip into a three-way tie for second at two-under 142.
Rahman, who had opened with a three-under 69, was joined by Indian challengers Joysurjo Dey and Vedant Sirohi. Dey made the day’s move among the leading contenders with a three-under 69, while Sirohi returned an even-par 71 to remain firmly in contention.
With two rounds left, the battle for professional status remains wide open, but Bhandarkar has given himself a valuable cushion as the pressure mounts in the demanding final stage of qualifying.
The halfway cut fell at 12-over 156, with 80 players from the 123-strong field advancing to the final two rounds. The qualifiers included 11 amateurs and eight foreign players.
The stakes are significant: at the end of the fourth round, the top 48 finishers will earn full playing cards for the 2026-27 DP World Professional Golf Tour of India season.
For Bhandarkar, the challenge now will be to turn his halfway advantage into a successful finish, while the chasing pack will look to close the gap and keep their season-long ambitions alive.
UNI BDN
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