Third win of 2026 gives Bhullar 6th AM Green IGPL title
Vimtra Chennai Lions GC take team honours

Vizag: Sachin Baisoya holed birdies almost at will during the regulation round, but Gaganjeet Bhullar holed them when it mattered most on the final day of the Maritime Invitational 2026 presented by Green Fuels Vizag Dolphins.

Bhullar, who missed a bunch of birdie putts in the round shot 1-under and finished at 10-under, while Baisoya, who was six behind at the start, shot 7-under and zoomed to 10-under to get into a play-off at the end of the final round, which was reduced to 16 holes. In the play-off, Baisoya’s chip from just off the green went past the flag, and Bhullar holed an awe-inspiring 40-footer to claim his third AM Green IGPL title of 2026 and the sixth overall.

Bhullar’s win once again carried the day for Vimtra Chennai Lions GC, who totalled 14-under, pushing hosts Green Fuels Vizag Dolphins GC to second place at 12-under. Despite Baisoya’s heroics, his team Hyderabad Firebirds finished third at 11-under.

The East Point Club wore a sunny look after a wet week despite which the East Point Golf Club held up well to ensure 48 holes over three days battle it out for the purse of Rs. 1.5 crores. M Dharma, who is representing the Vizag Dolphins, shot 6-under, the second-best card of the day after Baisoya’s 7-under, to finish sole third at 6-under.

Nayanika Sanga was the top woman player in Tied-22nd She shot rounds of 1-under, 1-over and 5-over for a total of 5-over over three days. Facing a six-shot deficit ahead of the final round, Bhullar carded 1-under for the final round as Baisoya piled on seven birdies, including one on the final hole of regulation play, to force a play-off.

Through the regulation play it was a tense battle as Bhullar kept missing and recovering pars, while Sachin Baisoya holed great putts. Then it came down to the last few holes and the extra hole.

Bhullar, whose lead was whittled down from the start and came down from six to two within four holes, left the door wide open when he doubled the 16th, his 14th hole of the day. He fell from 11-under to nine-under but rallied with two great shots and a tense clutch putt from 10 feet to get back to 10-under.

Sachin Baisoya for his part needed a birdie on the final hole, a Par-4 reduced to Par-3, and he duly delivered as he drained it from considerable distance. The duo walked back to the 18th tee for the first play-off hole. Bhullar landed on the green but was almost 40 feet from the pin, while Baisoya’s shot, though closer to the flag, slipped into the rough just off the green. Sachin Baisoya’s chip agonizingly slid past without dipping in and he could only stare at the errant ball.

Bhullar asked the referee and gave Baisoya the putt, but he now needed to two-putt from 40 feet to extend the play-off. Bhullar, a master craftsman and a cool customer under all situations, took no time to address his putt and nervelessly sent it on a perfect path – it did not just roll in close but dropped right in the centre for an amazing birdie to win him the title that Baisoya had come close to snatching away.

Bhullar had a wide grin and Baisoya simply nodded his head, “What do you say to that putt,” said Baisoya with a smile. “I had my share, but to get that in a play-off was amazing. Anyway, I am happy I fought hard and came so close.”

The ever-gracious Bhullar said, “Sachin played great golf. He is solid and consistent. Through the day, he was playing superbly.”

He added, “As for me, the putts just did not fall all day. But thankfully, when it mattered most, like on the 17th, which was our second-to-last hole. I had a good birdie there. Then Sachin came up with a great birdie to force a play-off. And again, I managed a real big one in the play-off. It was a thrilling finale.”

Deepak Yadav and Ravi Kumar, who had identical rounds on all three days, were tied fourth at 4-under, while Shaurya Binu, who started the week with a 4-over card, ended it with a 4-under and was sole sixth, as teenaged Veer Ganapathy was tied seventh with Olympian Udayan Mane.

Four players, Yashas Chandra, Harshjeet Sethie, Raghav Chugh and Saarthak Chhibber, were tied ninth