Nihal Cheema wins second straight U.S. Kids title

September 12, 2026

Nihal Cheema shot a four-under 68 to dominate the Boys 9 division, while Aaradhya Bhatnagar prevailed in a playoff and Avni Atreya recorded a hole-in-one.

Nihal Cheema continued his impressive run with a 12-stroke victory in the Boys 9 division at the second leg of the U.S. Kids Golf India North series at Classic Golf and Country Club in Gurugram.

The nine-year-old from Chandigarh made six birdies against two bogeys in a four-under 68, finishing with consecutive birdies to secure his second title in as many legs. Shivraj Singh and Jamraudh Singh Sidhu shared second place after matching 80s.

Coached by Jesse Grewal and occasionally mentored by Gaganjeet Bhullar, Cheema has already built an impressive international record. He finished runner-up at the 2026 U.S. Kids Golf World Championship at Pinehurst No. 1, posting three under-par rounds to reach 10-under.

Cheema was also runner-up at the 2026 FCG Callaway World Championship, won the 2024 U.S. Kids Golf European Championship in Scotland and claimed the 2025 FCG International Championship in California.

Drona Singh Dhull also completed back-to-back victories, winning the Boys 12 division with a second successive 71. His round featured three birdies and a closing eagle against four bogeys.

Aaradhya Bhatnagar defeated Aadya Kaushal in a playoff after both shot 69 in the closely contested Girls 11-12 division. Bhatnagar made seven birdies, including four in succession from the 11th, before three closing bogeys forced the playoff. First-leg winner Hissi Besra finished one stroke behind with a 70.

Avni Atreya produced the first hole-in-one of the 2026 series, holing out from 140 yards at the par-three fifth. She won the Girls 15-18 division with a 76.

Seven players completed consecutive victories across the opening two legs: Arjun Daiya, Lakshith A, Cheema, Dhull, Sidhak Handa, Prisca Sachdeva and Atreya.

The North series will return to Classic GCC for Legs 3 and 4 in October.

Leg 2 results

Boys 6 & Under: 1. Arjun Daiya (50); 2. Vihaan Nanda Gajula (54)
Boys 7: 1. Lakshith A (51); 2. Kabir Singh Sachar (59)
Boys 8: 1. Shabd Agarwal (38); 2. Keeon Agarwal (46)
Boys 9: 1. Nihal Cheema (68); T-2. Shivraj Singh (80), Jamraudh Singh Sidhu (80)
Boys 10: 1. Kabir Kanwar (80); 2. Maahir Singh (81)
Boys 11: 1. Tanveer Arora (91); 2. Aryaman Pratap Kala (96)
Boys 12: 1. Drona Singh Dhull (71); 2. Aaryav Yadav (85)
Boys 13-14: 1. Dhruv Kessireddy (74); 2. Aarnav Patel (74)
Boys 15-18: 1. Sidhak Handa (83); 2. Suhaan Shah (85)
Girls 8 & Under: 1. Amaira Kaushal (40); 2. Samyuktha Vignesshh (44)
Girls 9-10: 1. Aahana Shrivastava (74); 2. Suhani Chandra (75)
Girls 11-12: 1. Aaradhya Bhatnagar (69, playoff); 2. Aadya Kaushal (69)
Girls 13-14: 1. Prisca Sachdeva (92)
Girls 15-18: 1. Avni Atreya (76); 2. Verushka Shah (79)

Photo – US Kids Golf / Prominent winners of Leg 2 of US Kids Golf India (North) 2026 – From left Nihal Cheema, Drona Singh Dhull, Aaradhya Bhatnagar and Avni Atreya at the Classic Golf and Country Club.