Akshay Sharma shot a phenomenal nine-under 60 to take the first-round lead at the INR 1.5 crore SECL Chhattisgarh Open 2026, the DP World PGTI’s season-opener.
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Akshay took the early lead as he equaled the lowest score ever achieved in a single round at the Fairway Golf & Lake Resort in Naya Raipur. Akshay, who had a near-perfect round and narrowly missed a hole-in-one on two occasions, matched the record for the lowest score at the venue set by Khalin Joshi last year.
Two-time DP World PGTI winner Akshay had a bogey-free effort on day one that saw him make five birdies on the front-nine and four on the back-nine. He sank two 15-footers for birdies.
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Akshay said, “It was a dream round being one of those days when every aspect of my game was top-notch – driving, iron-play and putting. I missed only three greens in regulation today and missed out on holes-in-one by one foot on two occasions – second and 17th. I enjoyed some good form towards the end of last year with a couple of top-10 finishes. I feel I’m now building further on that form. I also had a good outing in Naya Raipur last year with a top-10 finish. So, I’m quite familiar with this course.”
Sixteen-year-old Kartik Singh, fresh from his tied seventh place finish at the PGTI Qualifying School last week and making his DP World PGTI debut, made an eagle, seven birdies and a bogey on day one to be placed tied second.
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Kartik, former India No. 1 Junior and Amateur, said, “I’m feeling great about starting so well in my very first event on the PGTI. I came back well after a bogey on the first hole. My mindset every day is to shoot a good round and play as well as I can. I made a lot of long putts today and chipped-in once. It is definitely very competitive here on the DP World PGTI and I feel I need to raise my game further to contend here.”
