Joshi Tightens Grip on J&K Open 2026 with Commanding Six‑Shot Lead
Rashid Khan of Delhi, himself a former Asian Tour winner, produced the day’s standout round—a sizzling seven‑under 64—to climb into sole second at 13‑under 200. Despite the surge, he remains six behind the relentlessly steady Joshi
SRINAGAR: On a crisp third day at the J&K Open 2026, Khalin Joshi delivered yet another masterclass at Srinagar’s breathtaking Royal Springs Golf Course, firing a six‑under 65 to stretch his lead to a comfortable six shots.
The Bengaluru golfer, already seven clear at the start of the round, backed up earlier scores of 63 and 66 with another composed effort, taking his three‑day total to a formidable 19‑under 194 at the ₹1 crore event.
Rashid Khan of Delhi, himself a former Asian Tour winner, produced the day’s standout round—a sizzling seven‑under 64—to climb into sole second at 13‑under 200. Despite the surge, he remains six behind the relentlessly steady Joshi.
Joshi’s third round marked his second consecutive bogey‑free card, highlighted by six birdies and extending his streak without a dropped shot to 37 holes. His only bogey of the week came on the par‑four 17th during the opening round. Although his ball‑striking lacked its usual sharpness early on, he managed to keep momentum alive before finding his rhythm on the back nine.
He acknowledged the shift in feel across the round, saying he was pleased to salvage birdies even after missing fairways. Regaining his touch later, he stitched together clean approaches and confident putts. The 33‑year‑old emphasised that despite his commanding position, his approach for the final day remains unchanged—hit fairways, stay present, and trust the process that has carried him through three exceptional rounds.
The Royal Springs layout has offered Joshi more than just scoring opportunities. During the Pro‑Am, he witnessed a bear sprint across the third fairway—a moment he jokingly hopes will continue to bring him luck. The course’s fruit‑laden surroundings have also added a unique charm to his week, with mulberries, apricots, and apples becoming unexpected mid‑round refreshments.
Behind the leading duo, Chandigarh’s Ajeetesh Sandhu climbed to third at 11‑under 202 after a polished 65. Panipat’s rising talent Shubham Jaglan and Chandigarh’s Angad Cheema share fourth at nine‑under 204. DP World PGTI Ranking leader Saptak Talwar, fresh off a summer on the HotelPlanner Tour, sits tied for sixth at eight‑under 205 alongside Kshitij Naveed Kaul.
One of the day’s standout moments came from Panchkula’s Brijesh Kumar, who aced the par‑3 11th—originally a par‑four but shortened due to waterlogging from heavy pre‑tournament rain. His hole‑in‑one propelled him to a share of 20th at three‑under 210.
The J&K Open 2026 continues to be powered by J&K Tourism as Event Title Partner and hosted at the scenic Royal Springs Golf Course. The tournament enjoys principal backing from global smart logistics leader DP World, PGTI’s Umbrella Partner, along with support from Axis Bank, Amul, Amrutanjan Enerlyte, Campa, Air India Maharaja Club, and Kalyani. Together, they underscore a shared commitment to elevating Indian professional golf and highlighting Jammu and Kashmir’s growing prominence as a premier golfing destination.
