Mumbai Aces teenager takes American Jhared Hack to the 18th hole in a nervy halve that stole the show on opening day of PGTI’s 72 The League.
Kartik Singh recently turned 16. Jhared Hack shot 59 at a PGTI event in Chhattisgarh three weeks ago. When the two were paired in Tuesday’s opening singles match of 72 The League at Classic Golf & Country Club, the storyline wrote itself: veteran American pro versus Indian teenager, experience versus audacity, a mismatch on paper that turned into the day’s most gripping contest.
Singh, playing for Mumbai Aces, took Hack all the way to the 18th hole before halving the match — a result that felt like victory and announcement rolled into one.
One-Up Through Fifteen, Then the Pressure Arrived
Singh held a 1-up lead through 15 holes, birdie-for-birdie golf that suggested he was not remotely intimidated by the occasion or the opponent. Then Hack, representing Nava Raipur, pulled one back with a birdie on the 16th, leveling the match and forcing Singh to earn the halve rather than coast to it.
The 18th hole turned theatrical. Both players hit solid tee shots on the par-5 finisher. Hack, piling on pressure, hit his second shot to 12 feet for eagle. Singh, from 210 yards out, responded with a second shot that landed 16 feet from the hole. He missed his eagle putt. Hack missed his. The match ended square.
“Obviously, I would have liked to make the putt on the last hole and win, but I’m really happy that I was able to halve the match,” Singh said afterward. “It was a really tough match. He didn’t really give me many chances to go up because he was playing very consistently today. I made six birdies, but it felt like every time I made a birdie, he would do the same.”
‘The First Match Sets the Pace’
Singh, who turned professional last year, was acutely aware of what the opening match represented. “I felt really proud that I was chosen by my team for the singles, because singles are the first ones to tee off and the first match definitely sets the pace for the day,” he said.
It was a statement of trust from Mumbai Aces — and Singh delivered composure well beyond his years.
Rajasthan Regals Dominate, Kolkata Struggle
While Singh’s halve captured headlines, the day belonged to Ajeetesh Sandhu’s Rajasthan Regals, who finished unbeaten against Kolkata Classics. Rajasthan won both singles matches and the foursomes, while Akshay Sharma and Jairaj Singh Sandhu held Khalin Joshi and Angad Cheema to a tie in fourball.
The foursomes victory was particularly impressive. Chikkarangappa S. and Dhruv Sheoran, despite losing two of the first six holes, rallied to beat Rashid Khan and Ajay Baisoya 3&2 — a comeback that showcased the resilience Sandhu had hoped to see from his squad.
“It was very pleasing. Very happy with the result,” Sandhu said. “I think we had a good plan going into today and we executed accordingly. We spoke last night, and eventually, it was a bit of a mix and match. A couple of the guys gelled immediately, and we knew that was a strong pairing to go ahead with.”
Prabagaran Writes His Name Into History
K. Prabagaran, also of Rajasthan Regals, secured the first-ever win in 72 The League history with a commanding 5&4 victory over veteran Mukesh Kumar. The Sri Lankan, who won the 2006 All-India Amateur Championship, birdied the third and fourth holes and never looked back, including draining a perfectly read 25-footer on the fourth.
“I really enjoy playing singles, and I thought I played very well against Mukesh,” Prabagaran said. “I made some very good putts and drove the ball well. It’s a proud moment for me that I scored the first point of the new league.”
Darkness Halts Play, Standings Take Shape
The final match of the day — a fourball between Nava Raipur’s Shivendra Singh Sisodia and Mohammed Azhar against Mumbai Aces’ Tapendra Ghai and Kushal Singh — could not be completed due to darkness. The teams will resume play Monday when the league returns to this venue.
After one round, Rajasthan Regals lead with 13 points, followed by UP Prometheans and Nava Raipur with 8 points each. Charminar Champions sit fourth with 5 points, Mumbai Aces fifth with 2 points, and Kolkata Classics last with 1 point.
Round 2 tees off Tuesday at Jaypee Greens Golf Course in Noida, where Rajasthan Regals will face Charminar Champions, Kolkata Classics take on Mumbai Aces, and UP Prometheans square off against Nava Raipur. The league has announced itself. Now the question is whether it can sustain the drama.