Punjab Newsline,Sports :
Brilliant 8-under 62 at Qutab Golf Course; Honey Baisoya in Second Place
Kshitij Naveed Kaul delivered an outstanding performance to take the lead after the opening round of the INR 1.5 crore Players Championship 2026 being held at the Qutab Golf Course in New Delhi. Playing on the Par-70 layout, Kshitij carded a flawless eight-under 62 to move to the top of the leaderboard.
The course has been one of Kshitij’s favourites. Last year, he had set the course record here with a remarkable 10-under 60. In the first round this week, his game looked sharp and well-balanced across all departments.
Honey Baisoya secured second place with an impressive seven-under 63. One shot behind him in tied third place were American Jhared Hack, Kushal Singh, Dhruv Sheoran, and Akshay Sharma. Hack, who won the season-opener last week, continued his fine form. Former PGTI Order of Merit champion Veer Ahlawat opened his campaign with a 65 to be tied seventh.
The 25-year-old Kshitij, a five-time PGTI winner, showcased exceptional driving during his round. On four occasions, he landed his drives close to the green. He also executed two excellent bunker shots that highlighted his control and confidence.
Coming into the tournament after a fourth-place finish in Naya Raipur last week, Kshitij maintained his momentum by collecting three birdies on the back nine and five more on the front nine, including a run of four consecutive birdies.
Speaking after his round, Kshitij said his driving and bunker shots were particularly strong. He noted that making chip-putts from close range is not easy on this course, making accurate wedge shots from longer distances crucial — something he managed effectively during his round.
With a commanding start in round one, Kshitij has positioned himself strongly as the tournament heads into the next stage