Indo-Canadian S. Yellamaraju claimed his maiden professional title on the Korn Ferry Tour
The Korn Ferry Tour, 2nd rung to the cream-of-the-crop PGA TOUR, is giving Indian golf fans more reasons to start tuning into action. Besides Dubai-raised Rayhan Thomas, Indo-Canadian Sudarshan Yellamaraju has announced his presence on tour in style. The Indian-born 23-year-old outpaced the field in the Bahamas at The Abaco Club to claim his maiden professional title in his 29th start on tour.
Starting the final round with a slender one-shot lead, Yellamaraju unleashed a bogey-free 8-under 64 to clinch a commanding five-stroke victory. His total of 25-under 263 also set a new tournament record, surpassing the previous benchmark in 2017.
This win is monumental for Yellamaraju, not just as his first professional victory but also as a crucial step toward his PGA TOUR aspirations. After finishing 99th in the Korn Ferry season-long rankings last year as a rookie with just two top-25 finishes, he narrowly kept conditional status for 2025. This freed him up for a spirited run at the qualifying tournament where he finished tied-36th, thereby earning eight confirmed starts. Yellamaraju has taken only two starts to take full advantage and be fully exempt through 2026 at minimum, positioning himself well to chase his first PGA TOUR card via the top 20 on the final standings, finalised after the Korn Ferry Tour Championship in mid-October.
Born in Vishakhapatnam, Sudarshan immigrated to Canada with his family, and began playing golf at the age of six. He turned pro at 19, and played on PGA Tour Americas in 2022 and 2023 before earning Korn Ferry Tour status in 2024.
His coach, Derek Ingram, praised Yellamaraju’s unwavering consistency and work ethic. “He’s incredibly solid from tee to green, has a strong short game, and an immense passion for the sport,” said Ingram.
While Yellamaraju’s victory stole the headlines, Dubai-born Indian National Rayhan Thomas did not shy away from giving him company in the Top 10 with a T7 finish. The 25-year-old delivered an impressive performance with rounds of 69-69-68-65 on the final day, totalling to a 17-under 271 that placed him in the upper crust of the field.
Both Yellamaraju and Thomas are spearheading the growing share of Indian-origin golfers that are coming into the fray on the penultimate golf tours. While their journeys have been distinct, their shared heritage and a hunger to win create a compelling narrative for Indian fans.
For both players, the focus will be on capitalising on their standings and pushing closer to a PGA TOUR card as the Korn Ferry Tour heads to Panama next.
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