Gaganjeet Bhullar Shares Lead After Rain-Hit Opening Round at Green Fuels Maritime Invitational 2026

The 11-time Asian Tour winner cards a three-under 69 to lead alongside Deepak Yadav, Ravi Kumar and Kanav Chauhan in Vizag, while Nayanika Sanga leads the women's field.

Experience proved valuable as Gaganjeet Bhullar made an impressive start to the Green Fuels Maritime Invitational 2026, carding a three-under-par 69 to share the first-round lead with Deepak Yadav, Ravi Kumar and Kanav Chauhan at East Point Golf Club in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday.

The opening round presented a challenging test for the field following heavy rainfall over the preceding days. With practice opportunities severely restricted and the course playing soft, players had to adapt quickly to unfamiliar conditions.

Bhullar, an 11-time Asian Tour winner and five-time AM Green IGPL champion, demonstrated his experience to navigate the course despite playing at East Point Golf Club for the first time. His opening-round performance also keeps him in contention for consecutive titles on the AM Green IGPL Tour, following his victory at the AM Green IGPL Krishna Invitational presented by Punjab Raptors.

Currently leading the individual standings in Season 2, Bhullar was joined at the top by three players still searching for their maiden AM Green IGPL victories.

Starting his round from the fourth hole, Bhullar began steadily with five consecutive pars before registering his first birdie on the ninth.

He continued with four more pars before finding momentum with three consecutive birdies from the 15th hole. His only dropped shot came on the 18th, his 15th hole of the day. Three closing pars ensured he finished with a three-under 69.

Despite the lack of preparation time, Bhullar was pleased with his ball-striking and overall performance.

"I played solid and am happy with my game. I missed just two greens and three fairways and had a bogey on one of them. Never played on this course before and in fact it is my first visit to the city and I am loving it. We were also unable to get a practice round, but that's golf and we need to adapt to all this," Bhullar said.

The Indian professional has concentrated primarily on the AM Green IGPL this season but expects more opportunities to compete on the Asian Tour in 2027. He also highlighted the importance of balancing professional commitments with personal projects and family responsibilities.

However, one of his biggest motivations remains contributing to his team, Vimtra Chennai Lions GC.

"More than anything, I'm motivated to play well for my team Vimtra Chennai Lions GC. Even today, as soon as I finished my round, I spoke to my teammates. Over the last year I've really enjoyed this format, and I want to contribute to every round for my team," he added.

Among the three players sharing the lead, Deepak Yadav was the only one to complete his round without dropping a shot. The 24-year-old Delhi Golf Club player returned a bogey-free 69, drawing on his previous experience of playing at East Point Golf Club.

Yadav has twice finished runner-up at the venue in Andhra Pradesh amateur events on the IGU circuit. That familiarity proved useful as he negotiated the difficult conditions to produce a consistent opening round.

Starting from the 14th hole, he picked up birdies on the 17th, seventh and 13th to finish three-under. Currently playing only his third AM Green IGPL event, Yadav has been trained by Arjuna Awardee Nonita Lall Qureshi.

"Having played here before helped me a lot. I knew what to expect, but still adapting to the conditions was important. I am very happy to get back without any bogeys for my three-under 69," he said. Yadav also welcomed the opportunity to compete alongside established professionals such as Bhullar, believing the experience would contribute to his development.

Ravi Kumar and Kanav Chauhan Complete the Leading Group

Ravi Kumar, who joined the professional ranks on the AM Green IGPL earlier this season, also carded a three-under 69. Starting from the sixth hole, Kumar registered birdies on the seventh, 18th, first and fourth. His only blemish was a dropped shot on the par-three 16th, leaving him tied for the lead.

Kanav Chauhan completed the four-player leading group with an equally impressive performance. The 2025 All India Junior champion, who turned professional earlier this year, began with an even-par front nine. After dropping a shot on the 10th, he immediately responded with a birdie on the 11th.

Three consecutive birdies from the 15th helped Chauhan reach three-under, and he maintained that position with a closing par. His performance puts another emerging Indian professional in contention alongside one of the country's most accomplished international golfers.

Experienced golfer Yashas Chandra occupied fifth position with a two-under 70. Nayanika Sanga emerged as the leading woman in the field after carding a one-under 71 to lie sixth overall. The 22-year-old's performance placed her ahead of several established competitors.

Olympian Udayan Mane had an eventful opening round featuring six birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey, finishing at even-par 72. He was tied seventh alongside Arjun Prasad and Harshjeet Sethie.

Mane acknowledged that simply completing the full 18 holes was an achievement given the persistent rainfall. "I think we're just lucky to have gotten in a round today after so much of rain over last two days and before. I woke up thinking, we're not going to play today, but to get in a full 18 holes without any rain was great. The course was very slushy, but all of us must adapt and find a way to put the ball in the hole," he said.

Pukhraj Singh Gill, who is set to compete on the Asian Tour in 2027, recovered late in his round to finish with a one-over 73. He was tied 10th alongside Sachin Baisoya and Tusshar Pannu.

With four players tied at three-under after the opening round, the Green Fuels Maritime Invitational is shaping up to be a competitive contest. Bhullar brings considerable international experience and the confidence of a recent tour victory, while Yadav, Kumar and Chauhan have an opportunity to register their maiden AM Green IGPL titles.

The challenging weather conditions have already tested the field's adaptability. With the tournament progressing, consistency and the ability to manage East Point's soft playing conditions could prove decisive.

For Bhullar, the objective will be to convert his strong opening into another title. For the three co-leaders, the opportunity is to make a statement alongside one of India's most accomplished golfers.