Dhruv Sheoran and Vishesh Sharma share Telangana Golconda Masters lead

Dhruv Sheoran and Hyderabad’s Vishesh Sharma fired matching course-record 10-under 60s to share the opening-round lead at the Rs. 1 crore Telangana Golconda Masters. Amardeep Malik was one shot behind, while Vishesh matched Manu Gandas’ 2022 course record

Hyderabad: Dhruv Sheoran and local favourite Vishesh Sharma produced matching course-record scores of 10-under 60 to share the opening-round lead at the Rs. 1 crore Telangana Golconda Masters 2026.

The pair held a one-shot advantage after the first round of the tournament’s 12th edition at the Hyderabad Golf Association.

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Thirty-one-year-old Sheoran, who hails from Gurugram, made 11 birdies against a solitary bogey to register the lowest score of his career. A winner on the DP World PGTI in 2024, he entered the week ranked 12th in the 2026 Race to DP World India Championship standings.

Starting on the par-five 10th, Sheoran made five consecutive birdies through the 14th before dropping his only shot of the day on the par-four 15th. He recovered immediately and remained bogey-free for the rest of his round.

Hyderabad’s 19-year-old Vishesh, competing in his second season on the DP World PGTI, matched Sheoran’s score during the afternoon session. His 60 featured an eagle on the par-five sixth, nine birdies and one bogey.

Noida’s Amardeep Malik, a two-time winner on the tour, remained one stroke behind the leaders in solo third after posting a nine-under 61. The 41-year-old made 10 birdies and one bogey.

Japan’s Koichiro Ishika, playing his maiden season on the DP World PGTI, produced a bogey-free seven-under 63 to occupy fourth place.

Sheoran’s round began in unlikely fashion when he pulled his opening drive into a bunker on another hole. With trees blocking his route to the green, he shaped a 40-yard cut from about 260 yards, found the putting surface and nearly holed his first putt from 50 feet before tapping in for birdie.

Vishesh learnt only after completing his round that he had matched Manu Gandas’ course record, set in 2022, at his home venue.

“Today’s round was very special, particularly because it came at my home course,” he said. “Everything seemed to go my way. I putted well, struck some good shots and, despite a slow start, stayed patient and kept returning my focus to the present.”

Vishesh converted a 15-foot eagle putt on the sixth, while another highlight came on the par-three 16th, where he struck his tee shot to about three feet and made birdie.

However, the teenager felt his par saves were just as valuable as the eagle and birdies.

Sri Lanka’s N. Thangaraja and Delhi’s Honey Baisoya shared fifth place at six-under 64.

Defending champion Jamal Hossain of Bangladesh opened with a two-over 72 and was tied for 72nd, while current DP World PGTI Rankings leader Saptak Talwar returned an even-par 70 to share 50th place.

The Race to DP World India Championship is a competition to crown the DP World PGTI’s No. 1 player. The competition will also determine the top 24 players from the DP World PGTI Order of Merit who will earn spots at the season-ending DP World India Championship.