Shubham Narain (centre) receives the Winner’s trophy & cheque from Mr. Amandeep Johl – CEO, PGTI (left) and Mr. Ujjal Chakraborti – Executive-in-Charge, Tinplate (right)
After years of setbacks and some near-misses, 27-year-old Shubham Narain finally had his moment, clinching his first win as a professional at the TATA Steel PGTI Qualifying School 2025. The Delhi-based golfer secured his maiden victory on the third playoff hole against Panchkula’s Anant Singh Ahlawat at the Golmuri Golf Course in Jamshedpur—both sons of Army officers.
Both players finished the regulation 72 holes tied at 16-under 268—Shubham with rounds of 71-64-67-66, and Anant with scores of 67-64-67-70. They played two playoff holes on Friday evening but with light fading, play was suspended. The decisive third playoff hole resumed on Saturday morning, where Shubham made a routine par on the par-4 13th to seal his victory, with Anant missing his par putt from eight feet.
For Shubham, who turned professional in 2017, this victory was a long time coming. “Getting my full card was the first step, but winning after eight years makes this even more special. It’s just Q-School, but a win is a win, and it gives me a lot of confidence,” he said.
Reflecting on his performance, he credited his putting for keeping him in contention throughout the week. “Coming out for the playoff on an extra day was unusual. There was barely anyone on the course, the range was empty—it felt like a regular practice day, which helped me stay calm.”
Shubham takes home INR 75,000 and secures full playing rights for the 2025 PGTI season. The final-round cut was set at three-under 281, with the top 33 players earning their full playing rights.