Md Nawab wins Pre-Qualifying I, 27 players qualify for final stage
Ahmedabad, January 19
Md Nawab of Patna came up with an even-par 72 in round two to total one-under 143 and thus win Pre-Qualifying I of the PGTI Qualifying School 2026, being played at the in Ahmedabad.Kensville Golf and Country Club
From a total field of 141 in Pre-Qualifying I, the top 27 players qualified for the Final Qualifying Stage as the cut was declared at six-over 150.
Forty-five-year-old seasoned professional Md Nawab (71-72), who was overnight tied second and two shots off the lead, mixed three birdies and three bogeys in round two. After two late bogeys, Nawab managed to finish the round well with a chip-in birdie on the 18th.
Nawab said, "My chipping and putting stood out over the last two days. I was also quite accurate with my iron shots. My chip-in from the bunker for a birdie on the closing 18th today summed up the week for me.
"I would like to credit my elder brother and mentor Md Islam, for helping me improve my game. I also thank my good friend and fellow professional Om Prakash Chouhan for all his insight and guidance that also contributed to my performance here in Ahmedabad."
Amateur Aryav Shah (71-73) and Uganda's Marvin Kibirige (71-73) tied second place at even-par 144.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Great to see an amateur like Aryav Shah holding his own against professionals and tying for second. The future of Indian golf looks bright with such young talent coming through.
A chip-in birdie on the 18th to win it! That's the stuff of legends. Shows incredible mental strength after those two late bogeys. Kensville is a tough course, so a 1-under total is a solid performance. Hope he carries this form forward.
It's wonderful to see international participation too, with Marvin Kibirige from Uganda performing well. Golf is truly a global sport. Good luck to all 27 qualifiers for the final stage!
Respectful criticism: While the article covers the winner well, I wish there was a bit more detail on the other Indian qualifiers, especially the younger ones. The journey of these 27 players to the final stage is the real story.
From a field of 141, only 27 qualify. That's a tough cut! Shows the high standards of the PGTI Q School. Heartbreak for the 114 who missed out, but that's sport. Hard work continues.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.