Ram Pal opens Final Stage with 68 to lead PGTI Q-School

Ram Pal made his move early at the most important stage of the week.

The 46-year-old from Chandigarh opened the Final Qualifying Stage of the PGTI Qualifying School 2026 with a four-under 68 at Kensville Golf & Country Club in Ahmedabad to take the outright first-round lead.

Pal’s round featured an eagle, four birdies and two bogeys, highlighted by a hole-out from 90 yards on the sixth. He also converted birdie putts from 15 to 25 feet and left himself tap-ins after a series of precise approach shots, a combination that set him apart in a tightly packed leaderboard.

Six players shared second place at two-under 70, including American Jhared Hack and Indians Dhruv Suri, Jujhar Singh, Joysurjo Dey, Manav Bais, along with amateur Pritish Singh Karayat. Teenager Kartik Singh followed at one-under 71, while Shubham Jaglan was a further shot back.

For Pal, the opening round carried added significance after a disrupted season. “I couldn’t play events last year due to an injury, but I’ve fully recovered now,” he said. “My performance in Pre-Qualifying gave me confidence, and today I planned my round really well. My driving and putting were top-class. It’s a great start, and I’ll look to capitalize.”

The stakes rise quickly. The top 80 players (and ties) will make the cut after round two, while only the top 47 at the end of four rounds will earn full cards for the 2026 PGTI season.

Photo – PGTI / Ram Pal