Aditya Bhandarkar Seizes Lead in PGTI Qualifying School Round 2
Aditya Bhandarkar takes a two-shot lead at the PGTI Qualifying School 2026-27 in Ahmedabad after a stellar second-round performance.
India’s Aditya Bhandarkar has surged into the lead at the Final Qualifying Stage of the PGTI Qualifying School 2026-27. Following a sharp second-round performance at the Kensville Golf & Country Club in Ahmedabad, Bhandarkar now holds a two-shot advantage with a total score of four-under 140.
A Dramatic Climb Up the Leaderboard
Starting the day tied for sixth place, the 37-year-old golfer from Pune delivered a commanding round of three-under 69. His card for the day featured five birdies and two bogeys, allowing him to jump five spots and claim the top position. This follows his opening round of 71, marking a consistent and aggressive start to the tournament.
Bhandarkar’s success on Wednesday was driven by precision with his wedges and a hot putter, which helped him secure a couple of tap-in birdies and sink two challenging long birdie putts.
Chasing the Top Spot
The shift in leadership came at the expense of the overnight leader, Bangladesh's Md Siddikur Rahman. Rahman, who started the tournament strong with a 69, carded a 73 in the second round. This dropped him into a tie for second place with a total of two-under 142.
Joining Rahman in the second-place tie are fellow Indians Joysurjo Dey (73-69) and Vedant Sirohi (71-71), both of whom remain within striking distance of the lead heading into the final stages.
Confidence and Conditions
Reflecting on his performance, Aditya Bhandarkar attributed his current form to the momentum gained from the Pre-Qualifying event held at Vooty last week, where he finished second after shooting 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," Bhandarkar stated. "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."
The Road to the Full Card
The competition is intensifying as the field narrows. The halfway cut was set at 12-over 156, meaning only the top 80 players from the initial field of 123 have advanced. This surviving group includes eight foreign players and 11 amateurs.
The stakes remain incredibly high for the remaining golfers: only the top 48 players at the conclusion of the fourth round will secure their full cards for the 2026-27 DP World PGTI season.