Phillaur, March 3 – Imran Ali Mollah and Pankaj Maandiya emerged victorious in Round One of the INR 25 lakh Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI)'s NexGen Phillaur Open 2026, presented by R S Gill, which was held at the Ranjitgarh Golf Club in Phillaur, Punjab on Tuesday.
Imran and Pankaj scored a combined score of 68, three under par, at the Par-71 course, securing the lead in the second event of the 2026 DP World PGTI NexGen season.
Six players were tied for third place with a score of 69, two under par. The six players included Imran Ali Mollah's brother, Irfan Ali Mollah, Md Muaj, Krishna Verma, Rohit Boken, Ajay, and Aditya Raj Singh Chahal.
While Imran Ali Mollah had five birdies and two bogeys in his first round, Pankaj Maandiya had five birdies and a double bogey.
The 54-hole event featured 90 players. The top 35 players and ties will advance to the final round on Wednesday.
The PGTI launched the NexGen Tour last year with the aim of providing equal playing opportunities to all Indian professional golfers and to strengthen the Indian golf scene, which in turn increases competition and the level of golf. The NexGen also aims to bring professional golf to Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities in India, thereby expanding the reach of the sport within the country.
The prize money for each NexGen event has been increased from INR 20 lakh to INR 25 lakh this season.
The NexGen season will consist of the next three NexGen events, which will be held at the Lucknow Golf Club (March 10-12), Golden Greens Golf & Country Club, Gurugram (March 17-19), and Patna Golf Club (March 24-26).
The Professional Golf Tour of India serves as the official governing and sanctioning body for men's professional golf in India and is a recognized member of the International Golf Federation and the International Federation of PGA Tours.
