Korean Heemin Chang took the lead on day one of the Bharath Classic 2025 Gujarat on Thursday, November 27, at Kensville Golf Resort near Ahmedabad, playing the course for the first time. Chang carded an eight-under-par 64 despite arriving late the previous night and without a practice round, leading Pukhraj Singh Gill from India, Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond, Poosit Supupramai, and Korean Wooyoung Cho, who each shot 66s.

A large group tied for sixth included India’s Ajeetesh Sandhu and Udayan Mane, Chinese-Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang, Thailand’s Ekpharit Wu, and Filipino Sean Ramos, all posting 67s. The week’s inaugural US$500,000 event is jointly sanctioned with the Indian Golf Premier League Tour and represents the penultimate Asian Tour tournament of the season, crucial for finalizing Order of Merit positions for 2026.

Chang shines on debut

“It’s a good result, as it’s my first time here,” said Chang, currently 127th on the Merit list. “The greens were slower than I expected, but I adapted well, and my course management was good.”

Chang played in the third group out and began the front nine with a two-under, then caught fire on the back nine with three consecutive birdies from 10, a single bogey at 14, an eagle on 15, and birdies on 16 and 18. The Korean tied for sixth at the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open earlier this month, giving him confidence heading into the final stretch of the year.

Contenders jostle for positions

Pukhraj Singh Gill arrives buoyed by his maiden pro victory at the IGPL Invitational 2025 Jamshedpur, comfortably winning by nine shots. He is currently second on the rankings and praised Kensville as a course he knows well, having competed in several Challenge Tour and main PGTI events there.

Wooyoung Cho, part of Korea’s 2023 Asian Games gold-winning team, aims to finish strongly to secure a top-65 Merit ranking and retain his card. Cho has struggled with putting this season but finds renewed confidence after tying for sixth in Taiwan.

Chinese-Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang, a five-time Asian Tour winner, is desperate to secure a strong finish to maintain his playing rights after a challenging season affected by a shoulder injury. He emphasized course management and tempo control as keys to his week.

Leaderboard implications and expectations
A win this week would likely secure Chang’s playing rights for the next season. The Bharath Classic is critical for multiple players aiming to solidify their standings on the Asian Tour Order of Merit. Every shot counts in the battle for top finishes and retention of playing privileges, making the tournament both competitive and high-stakes.

Players must combine precision off the tee with strategic play on the greens to maximize their scoring potential. With several accomplished golfers in contention, the leaderboard remains fluid and highly competitive.