Chandimandir golfer Umed wins Dilip Tirkey Invitational

Umed Kumar of Chandimandir shot back-to-back chip-in birdies, one each in the final hole of regulation play and the playoff, to win the Dilip Tirkey Invitational played at the Bhubaneswar Golf Club. It was his second title of the season.

Kumar finished No 1 in the 2025 PGTI NEXGEN Order of Merit with season’s earnings of Rs 8,61,140. As a result of emerging NEXGEN Order of Merit champion, he has earned himself exemption on the PGTI’s main tour next year.

The 24-year-old Kumar (67-70-71), the overnight leader by three shots, struck a one-under 71 in the third and final round to total 8-under 208 for the week. The match went into a playoff after Gurugram-based Kushal Singh (70-73-65), who was overnight t-7th, produced the best round of the tournament, a 7-under 65, to end the regulation 54 holes in tied first place at 8-under 208 along with Kumar.

Chandarjeet Yadav (66) finished third at 7-under 209. Sanjeev Kumar and Divesh Rana ended the week in tied-4th at 5-under 211. Ajay Kumar Sahu had the best result among the local professionals with 6-over 222 to take 27th place.

Kumar, who eventually emerged wire-to-wire champion, had an up and down day as he picked up a birdie and two bogeys on the front-nine, followed by two birdies and a bogey between the 11th and 17th. He made most fairways and greens on Thursday but also saw five of his putts lip out.

As Kushal made a charge on the final day with an eagle and seven birdies against two bogeys, Kumar needed a miracle to take Kushal into a playoff requiring a chip-in for birdie on the 18th. He managed to pull off the chip-in for birdie. Thereafter, on the playoff hole, he produced a dream finish by chipping-in for birdie.