In photo from L-R – Sampath Chari (Tournament Director, PGTI); R Gopinath (President, Coimbatore Golf Club); D Ravichandran (Honorary Secretary, Coimbatore Golf Club); Champion Rayhan Thomas; and Prassadh Shanmugam (CEO – KGISL)
Indian national, Rayhan Thomas, 24, who grew up in Dubai and played college golf at Oklahoma State University, carded rounds of 70-67-69-68 (14-under 274) to clinch victory at the Coimbatore Open in his very first start in India.
Thomas entered the final round trailing Sachin Baisoya by a shot at 10-under and added a final round 68 to prevail by one shot and create history by becoming only the second player to win in his first appearance on the PGTI. Thai golfer Pariya Junhasavasdikul was the first player to achieve the feat when he won the year-end Tour Championship in 2016 on his PGTI debut.
This also marked his first victory as a pro in his fourth start after playing an event on the Korn Ferry Tour in the USA, followed by an 8th-place finish at the Asian Tour’s US$2 million International Series Morocco event.
Rayhan is now setting his sights on qualifying for all three major golf tours—PGA TOUR, DP World Tour, and the Asian Tour—as he prepares to kick off his professional career early next year.
RELATED: Rayhan shines in Morocco
Thomas first shot into prominence when, as a 16-year-old amateur, he won twice on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Tour back in 2016.
In fact, there’s even a ‘Rayhan Rock’ by the water hazard on the 18th hole at Dubai Creek, commemorating his historic win in 2016 as the first amateur to clinch a MENA Tour event!
The 2022 PGTI Rankings winner, Manu Gandas, carded rounds of 71-65-72-67 to finish runner-up at 13-under par as he struggles to get back to his winning ways of 2022 after spending 2023 in Europe without making much headway.
The tour is in Chennai this week for Rs. 50 lakh prize money Chennai Pro Championship at TNGF Cosmo Golf Course, from Aug. 20-23.
Photo – PGTI