Joshi and Ahlawat share the first day of the Tata Open honors at Golmuri

Joint leader Khalin Joshi in action at the Golmuri Golf Course in the first round of the season-ending Tata Open in Jamshedpur on Thursday. Image courtesy of PGTI.

By Rahul Banerji

Khalin Joshi and Veer Ahlawat won the opening day of the season-ending Rs 2 crore Tata Open at Beldih and Golmuri golf courses in Jamshedpur on Thursday.

In the first round, half the field played their opening 18 holes in Beldih, while the other half did so in Golmuri. In the second round, both halves will switch locations, according to the PGTI.

Joshi and Ahlawat shot 7-under-par 63s at Golmuri to share the clubhouse lead as the first round could not be completed on Thursday.

Bangladesh’s Md Siddikur Rahman, a former Indian Open champion, hit a 6-under 64 in Golmuri to finish third in the clubhouse.

Ten players from a field of 126 were unable to complete their first round on Thursday when play was halted due to fading light. They will resume the unfinished round on Friday at 7 a.m.

Ahlawat, a two-time winner this year and last year in Jamshedpur at the Tata Steel Tour Championship, scored eight birdies against one bogey to find his way to the top on day one.

Well-known route

“I have played well in Jamshedpur over the last few years, so I know the two courts well and I know how to adapt to both,” said Ahlawat, who won at Navi Mumbai last week.

“I hit well from the tee today and made the most of my opportunities on the greens.

“I will now try to shoot five or six under at Beldih on the second lap, which would put me in a good position halfway through the stage.”

Joshi also mixed eight birdies with a bogey in his 63, later saying: “It’s important to adapt quickly to the greens this week. I did that well today and I putted well within five feet.”

Veer Ahlawat, former Order of Merit champion and winner of the Cidco Open last week, found form early in Jamshedpur to share the lead at the Tata Open on Thursday. Image courtesy of PGTI.

Among others competing this week are PGTI Order of Merit champion Yuvraj Sandhu, second-ranked Sri Lankan N. Thangaraja and No. 2. 3 Shaurya Bhattacharya.

Quality field

All three are multiple winners on the PGTI this year, plus Sandhu has his DP World (European) Tour card sewn up for 2026, while Bhattacharya earned Asian Tour status in Thailand last week.

The field also includes former Tata Open winners Om Prakash Chouhan, Sri Lanka’s Mithun Perera, Mukesh Kumar, Shamim Khan and Gurki Shergill.

The local challenge is led by professional Kurush Heerjee.

The two locations are both lush green and very well maintained, with the charming Dalma Hills in the background.

While Beldih is characterized by long fairways, Golmuri is a smaller, greener boutique course without much room for error.

Also read: Ahlawat wins Cidco Open with solid final run in Kharghar Valley

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