NexGen Forest Hill: Umed Kumar Makes Pro Debut In Style, Jointly Leads With Mari Muthu After Rd 1

NexGen Forest Hill: Umed Kumar makes pro debut in style, jointly leads with Mari Muthu after Rd 1 (Image Source: IANS)

The Forest Hill Golf: Tricity-lad Umed Kumar made his professional debut in style as he shot a three-under 61 to jointly lead the opening round along with Bengaluru’s Mari Muthu R. at the fourth event of the PGTI NexGen season being played at the Forest Hill Golf & Country Club in S.A.S. Nagar, Punjab on Wednesday.

The Forest Hill Golf & Country Club is a par-64 nine-hole course where the nine holes are played twice to comprise a round.

Umed Kumar, a winner of two amateur titles, including the Eastern India Amateur in 2023, made a dream start to his pro career thanks to his exceptional short game. He sank a couple of birdies from a range of 12 to 15 feet and also chipped in for birdie on the fourth hole.

“I’m delighted to make a good start in my first-ever professional event. This gives me a lot of confidence going ahead. I negotiated the windy conditions well and played some solid golf as I found all fairways and missed just three greens," Umed said.

“I’m quite familiar with this golf course as I have playing rights here, so that is an added advantage for me. I know where to land my approaches and which side I can afford to miss the greens, if at all,” he said.

Mari Muthu, the co-leader, was outstanding with his wedge shots and chipping as he landed it within five feet on four occasions to set up birdies. Kolkata’s Khokan Molla made a hole-in-one on the 18th during his round of 78.

The fourth event of the 2025 Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) NexGen season offers a prize purse of INR 20 lakh and marks the return of men’s professional golf and the PGTI to Mohali after 11 years.

Mari Muthu, the co-leader, was outstanding with his wedge shots and chipping as he landed it within five feet on four occasions to set up birdies. Kolkata’s Khokan Molla made a hole-in-one on the 18th during his round of 78.

Article Source: IANS