Honey Baisoya blazes to the front in Kolar Open

Under a restless sky, where gusts swirled like whispers of challenge, Honey Baisoya carved his name into the annals of ZION Hills Golf County on the opening day of the Kolar Open 2025. With a four-under 68, the 29-year-old from Gurugram didn’t just take the lead—he set the course record at this pristine new venue, staking an early claim in the INR 1 crore Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) event.

As fading light halted play, leaving eight of the 126 players to complete their first round, Baisoya stood alone atop the leaderboard, a beacon of precision in turbulent conditions. Baisoya’s round was a masterclass in resilience and opportunism, a narrative that unfolded on the undulating fairways of ZION Hills. Starting on the 10th, he navigated the tighter, wind-swept back-nine with a measured blend of caution and aggression.

A birdie on the 11th was offset by bogeys on the 13th and 16th, but a gritty recovery from a hazard on the 17th—where he salvaged bogey—proved the fulcrum of his day. “That recovery was a turning point,” Baisoya reflected. “It settled me, and I found my rhythm.” What followed was a scintillating stretch: a 12-foot eagle on the 18th ignited a run of seven shots gained over seven holes, including three birdies and a jaw-dropping 35-foot eagle on the sixth. Only a pair of three-putt bogeys on the eighth and ninth slightly marred an otherwise commanding performance.

The ZION Hills layout, making its PGTI debut, revealed itself as a stern test. “The back-nine is tighter, and the wind makes it a beast,” Baisoya noted. “You’ve got to thread the needle off the tee.” His ability to do just that—coupled with a hot putter—gave him a two-shot cushion over a chasing pack tied at two-under 70.

Tapendra Ghai, Shaurya Bhattacharya, Aryaman Aditya Mohan, and Sri Lankan K Prabagaran form a formidable quartet in pursuit, each displaying flashes of brilliance but lacking Baisoya’s consistency across the round. Further back, the field tells its own story. Chandigarh’s Angad Cheema and Pune’s Udayan Mane, both proven winners, carded 73s to sit tied for 24th, their rounds a mix of promise and frustration.

Arjun Prasad, second in the PGTI Order of Merit, struggled to a 76, leaving him mired in a tie for 46th. For Baisoya, currently 16th in the merit race with four top-10s this season, this opening salvo signals a continuation of the form that saw him finish runner-up in Delhi earlier this year. “I’ve been consistent since April,” he said. “This start gives me a foundation to build on.” Baisoya’s game is a study in contrasts: the measured discipline of a seven-time PGTI winner paired with the audacity to sink long-range eagles. His ability to adapt to ZION Hills’ nuances—its narrower back-nine, its susceptibility to wind—sets a high bar for the field.

As the Kolar Open unfolds, the question isn’t just whether Baisoya can maintain his lead, but whether anyone can match his blend of technical precision and fearless shot-making. For now, the course record is his, and the spotlight at ZION Hills burns brightest on Honey Baisoya.