Pukhraj Gill Moves Closer to Asian Tour Card After T-19 Finish in Jakarta
Pukhraj Singh Gill took another important step towards securing an Asian Tour card for 2027 after finishing tied-19th at the Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) in Jakarta on Sunday.
The Indian golfer, who recently emerged as the IGPL Tour’s Order of Merit winner, carded a four-round total of 15-under par to strengthen his position in the race for promotion to the Asian Tour. With only one ADT event remaining in November, Gill currently sits ninth in the ADT Order of Merit, placing him inside the crucial top 10.
The significance of that position cannot be overstated. At the end of the ADT season, the top 10 players on the Order of Merit will earn Asian Tour cards for the following season. Gill therefore enters the final event with his 2027 status firmly within reach.
His latest performance in Jakarta has given him valuable momentum heading into the final stretch of the season.
Gill produced a steady performance throughout the tournament, recording rounds of 70, 66, 68 and 69. His second-round 66 provided the highlight of his campaign, while rounds of 68 and 69 over the weekend ensured that he remained well under par and finished at 15-under overall.
Although he could not challenge for the title, his consistency was enough to maintain his position in the ADT promotion race. For Gill, the tournament was less about chasing an individual victory and more about securing valuable Order of Merit points at a crucial stage of the season.
With one tournament left, every position could prove decisive. The Indian now has a clear target: remain inside the top 10 when the ADT season concludes.
Following in Karandeep Kochhar’s footsteps
Gill's current position also draws parallels with another IGPL Tour success story. A year ago, Karandeep Kochhar followed the same pathway, using the IGPL Tour as a platform before earning an Asian Tour card through the Asian Development Tour. Kochhar is now competing on the Asian Tour.
Gill could potentially replicate that progression. Winning the IGPL Tour Order of Merit gave him an important springboard into the international development circuit, and his performances on the ADT have now put him within touching distance of the biggest opportunity of his career.
The route also highlights the growing importance of domestic professional tours in creating pathways for Indian golfers to compete internationally. For Gill, the challenge is now to complete the journey.
While Gill focused on the Order of Merit battle, Indonesia's Kevin Akbar produced the performance of the week to claim the Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament title. Playing in front of strong home support, the 28-year-old capitalized on his local knowledge and delivered a spectacular final round.
Akbar closed with a nine-under 63 to finish at 25-under par, securing a two-shot victory over Singapore's James Leow and Malaysia's Khavish Varadan. The victory was particularly significant for Indonesian golf, as Akbar became the first Indonesian golfer to win the tournament.
His final-round charge transformed the leaderboard and ensured that the home crowd had plenty to celebrate. Akbar's 63 was also a fitting conclusion to a week in which he consistently demonstrated the scoring ability required to win at the ADT level.
Khalin Joshi leads Indian challenge
Gill was not the only Indian to produce a strong performance in Jakarta. Khalin Joshi finished tied for 10th after rounds of 66, 68, 69, and 67, ending the tournament at 18-under par. Joshi's four-round consistency allowed him to remain among the leading players throughout the week and gave India another top-10 finish on the ADT.
Elsewhere, Kartik Singh finished tied for 32nd after rounds of 72, 70, 66, and 69, while Aman Raj was tied for 37th following a card of 67, 69, 70, and 73. N Arjun Prasad and Saarthak Chibber were unable to make the cut.
For Gill, however, the bigger picture remains the ADT Order of Merit. A tied-19th finish in Jakarta has kept him firmly inside the top 10 with just one event left. The pressure will increase considerably in November, when players around the qualification line fight for the limited number of Asian Tour cards.
Gill will enter that final event knowing exactly what is at stake. The Asian Tour represents the next level of competition for Indian golfers, offering stronger fields, bigger tournaments, and an opportunity to establish themselves on one of Asia's premier professional circuits.
His journey from winning the IGPL Tour Order of Merit to becoming a top-10 contender on the ADT is already a significant achievement. But with a 2027 Asian Tour card now within sight, Gill has an even bigger incentive to finish the job.
The final event will determine whether he can follow in Kochhar's footsteps and turn his domestic success into a place on the Asian Tour.
For now, ninth place in the ADT Order of Merit means Gill is exactly where he needs to be.
Comments (0)
to post comments, replies, and votes.
Loading comments…
