Challenge de Espana 2026: Veer Ahlawat Opens with 68 to Stay in Contention, Saptak Talwar Impresses with Bogey-Free Round

Indian golfer Veer Ahlawat positioned himself firmly in contention after the opening round of the Challenge de Espana, carding a 3-under-par 68 to sit tied 16th at the Hotel Planner Tour event being played at the Isla Canela Links in Spain.

Ahlawat, who has been balancing commitments across the DP World Tour, Hotel Planner Tour and the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), produced an eventful round featuring seven birdies and four bogeys on a course that challenged much of the field. Joining him among the Indian contingent, Saptak Talwar also enjoyed a promising start, returning a bogey-free 2-under 69 to occupy a share of 24th place after the first day. Meanwhile, Arjun Prasad endured a difficult opening round and found himself tied 137th after carding a 6-over 77.

With three rounds still to play, both Ahlawat and Talwar remain well placed heading into the crucial second day.

Ahlawat's opening round was one of the more aggressive performances among the Indian players. The 29-year-old managed to offset four dropped shots with seven birdies, ensuring he finished the day under par despite several momentum swings throughout the round. His score of 68 left him four shots behind the joint leaders but comfortably within striking distance of the top of the leaderboard.

The Indian has enjoyed increasing exposure to high-level competition over the past year through starts on both the DP World Tour and Hotel Planner Tour. That experience appeared to help him navigate the demanding conditions at Isla Canela Links, where consistency proved difficult for many players.

While the four bogeys will leave room for improvement over the coming rounds, Ahlawat's ability to keep creating birdie opportunities was an encouraging sign. With three rounds remaining, he remains well positioned to make a move up the leaderboard if he can reduce the number of dropped shots.

While Ahlawat's round featured plenty of drama, Saptak Talwar took a different route to his opening score. The Indian golfer delivered one of the most disciplined rounds of the tournament, carding a bogey-free 2-under 69. Talwar was one of only three players in the entire field to complete the opening round without recording a single bogey. The other two players to achieve the feat were Ireland's Mark Power and England's Alfie Plant.

Starting on the back nine, Talwar remained patient throughout the day and picked up birdies on the 15th and second holes.

Although he recorded fewer birdies than Ahlawat, his ability to avoid mistakes allowed him to stay firmly in contention entering the second round. On a links-style layout where avoiding costly errors can often be just as important as making birdies, Talwar's opening round demonstrated strong course management and discipline.

At the top of the leaderboard, Portugal's Pedro Figueiredo and South Africa's Ryan van Velzen shared the lead after both players carded impressive 7-under 64 rounds. The pair established a one-shot advantage over Ireland's Mark Power, who occupied third place on 6-under 65. Power's position near the summit was particularly noteworthy given that he was one of only three golfers to complete the day without a bogey.

Alfie Plant, the third player to record a bogey-free round, finished tied seventh after posting a 4-under 67. The leaderboard remains tightly packed after the opening day, meaning a low round on Friday could dramatically alter the standings.

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The Challenge de Espana represents another valuable opportunity for Indian golfers competing on the Hotel Planner Tour, the official feeder circuit to the DP World Tour. Strong performances at this level can significantly impact rankings and open pathways to greater playing opportunities in Europe.

For Ahlawat, the event provides another chance to build momentum during a season in which he has divided his schedule between multiple tours. His ability to remain competitive against an international field continues to be a positive indicator of his development. Talwar, meanwhile, will be encouraged by the consistency displayed during his opening round and will look to convert his solid start into a weekend challenge.

With three rounds remaining, the focus now shifts to maintaining momentum and securing positions inside the cut line before making a charge over the weekend. Ahlawat's attacking style produced enough birdies to keep him within touching distance of the leaders, while Talwar's disciplined approach ensured he remained firmly in the mix.

As the Challenge de Espana progresses, both Indians have given themselves a platform to build upon. If Ahlawat can combine his birdie-making ability with greater consistency and Talwar can continue his error-free golf, Indian fans could have multiple players to follow deep into the tournament in Spain.