Young Golfer Danish Verma Shines at Phoenix Invitational in Hyderabad
15-year-old Danish Verma leads the Phoenix Invitational in Hyderabad, outpacing seasoned players with an impressive performance.
Hyderabad, November 12 (Daily Kiran) : Fifteen-year-old Indian golfer Danish Verma has made a striking impression at the Phoenix Invitational in Hyderabad, held on November 12. Competing against several seasoned players from the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL), Verma has established himself as a frontrunner.
Playing for the first time at the Wooty Golf County, the young talent from Ludhiana scored 5-under in the first round and followed it with an impressive 6-under (66) in the second round. With a total score of 11-under, he now holds a solo lead as only one round remains in the tournament.
Representing the Green Fuels Vizag Dolphins GC and coached by Chandigarh’s J.C. Grewal, Verma is one shot ahead of renowned players like Gaganjeet Bhullar (66-68), Shiv Kapoor (68-66), and rising star Harshjeet Singh Sethi (67-67), all currently at 10-under. Had Verma not made a bogey on the 17th hole, his lead could have been extended to two shots.
Verma finds great joy in the camaraderie of his peers off the course. Friends like Veer Ganpati (75-68, T-29) and Raghav Chugh (71-64, T-5) make him feel at home among the young competitors.
Gaganjeet Bhullar of the Vimtra Chennai Lions GC also performed well, scoring 68, which included a birdie on the final hole. Shiv Kapoor started strong, making four birdies in the first five holes but faltered with a shot on the eighth hole. He managed to reach 11-under with three more birdies on the 12th, 14th, and 15th holes, only to fall back with a bogey on the 17th.
Harshjeet Singh Sethi, who has recently been in the spotlight for his strong performances, maintained his momentum with a second consecutive score of 67. After making six birdies and one bogey on the first day, he followed up with five birdies and no bogeys in the second round.
Raghav Chugh from the Phoenix Hyderabad Firebirds GC made a remarkable comeback, achieving the best score of the day at 64. He now stands at 9-under, tied for fifth place with Tushar Pannu (68-67), Arjun Prasad (66-69), and Sachin Baisoya (66-69).
Chugh showcased his skills with four birdies in each half of the round, without any bogeys. He appears poised to claim his first professional victory. With eight players within just two shots of each other, the final day promises to deliver an exciting showdown.
