Berry Breaks Course Record in Kolkata : Kolkata Challenge Golf: England's Joshua Berry Sets New Course Record with 62, Ties for Lead with Chouhan

Kolkata, March 14 (NationPress) - The young English golfer, Joshua Berry, delivered an impressive performance on Friday, carding a remarkable 10-under 62 to establish a new course record. This feat positioned him as a joint leader alongside India's Om Prakash Chouhan at a cumulative score of 10-under 134 during the US$300,000 Kolkata Challenge 2025 hosted at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club (RCGC).

Berry's extraordinary round (72-62) saw him ascend 53 places from his previous overnight rank of 54th. Chouhan, maintaining his momentum with a solid 68 (66-68), continued to share the top spot for the second consecutive day in this HotelPlanner Tour & PGTI co-sanctioned event.

Trailing the leaders, Andreas Halvorsen from Norway secured third place with a score of 66. Meanwhile, Dhruv Sheoran managed a 71, placing him as the second Indian in the top 10, tied for eighth at six-under 138.

Local star SSP Chawrasia ended his second round with a score of 72, finishing tied for 13th at five-under 139. Gaganjeet Bhullar shone bright with a flawless 65, marking the best round among Indian players on day two, moving up 93 spots to tie for 16th at four-under 140.

The halfway cut was set at even-par 144, with 71 professionals, including 20 Indians, making the cut.

The 19-year-old Berry exhibited remarkable skill, achieving five birdies on the back nine, including four consecutive ones, followed by another five on the front nine, surpassing the previous course record of nine-under 63, which was jointly held by Edward Fryatt, Arjun Atwal, Rashid Khan, and Shamim Khan.

Berry, who has held playing rights on the DP World Tour and the HotelPlanner Tour since 2023, made a stunning record-breaking performance as he birdied the ninth, his final hole of the day.

Joshua expressed, “It’s very special to set a course record at such a historic golf club. Achieving the best score here is fantastic. It’s rewarding for all the effort I’ve invested. When your game isn’t at its peak, you have to persist for days like this.”

“Being in this position excites me. I would’ve been pleased with any score in the 60s today, but making a few more putts was gratifying. I played solidly. Yesterday, I was three-over-par through seven holes, so I was on the chase while playing in the afternoon, when conditions are tougher. It was advantageous to tee off in the morning today,” he added.

“This course demands precision; you must play strategically and avoid being overly aggressive. I felt I executed my game well, positioning my shots effectively and sinking several putts today.”

“I focused on staying present, taking one shot at a time, and not losing sight of the moment. It’s easier said than done, but I’ll remain patient, play my own game, prepare thoroughly, and see what unfolds,” he remarked.

Chouhan, 38, the 2023 PGTI Order of Merit champion and a previous winner on the HotelPlanner Tour, started his day slowly, recording a birdie and a bogey on the front nine. His eighth hole birdie was a spectacular 30-foot putt.

Chouhan’s performance improved significantly after his tap-in birdie on the 12th and a 15-foot birdie on the 13th. He concluded the day impressively with 10-foot birdie putts on the 17th and 18th holes.

“I struggled with my putting stroke on the front nine, missing a few putts. However, I adjusted on the back nine, leading to more birdies. My confidence surged following the birdies on the 12th and 13th,” Chouhan stated.

“My hitting was superior to round one. Despite some front nine putting struggles, I remained patient, knowing there would be numerous scoring chances on the back nine. This course requires strategic planning, and I believe I’ve executed my strategy well for both rounds,” he concluded.