Dubai-born golfer Rayhan Thomas managed to overcome his nerves to secure his first professional title at the KGiSL Presents Coimbatore Open, part of the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), on Saturday. The 24-year-old, who turned pro on June 1, clinched the victory with a final round score of 68, bringing his total to 14 under par 274. Rayhan, who made his debut on the PGTI through a tournament invite, followed up his initial rounds of 70 and 67 to win by one stroke over Manu Gundas, the 2022 TATA Steel PGTI Rankings champion. This win is a significant milestone in Rayhan’s professional golf career.

“Today was a lot of fun, experiencing those butterflies again,” Rayhan shared with Khaleej Times after receiving the trophy. “I felt I hit my best shots today compared to all my other rounds, although my putting wasn’t great.” On the 17th hole, with strong winds, he managed to get his ball out of the bunker and onto the green, securing a two-shot lead. He then finished the round with a confident shot on the last hole, recalling, “I was nervous over the last three holes, but I knew I was playing well and was near the top of the leaderboard, which boosted my confidence.”

Rayhan expressed his delight in having his uncle Thomas as his caddy and his sister Sasha supporting him. He honed his skills at the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club and received coaching from Claude Harmon III, Justin Parsons, and the team at CH3 Performance Academy at The Els Club, Dubai. Recently, he completed his five-year golf scholarship at Oklahoma State University (OSU). Rayhan started the final round one shot behind the third-round leader Sharma, finishing with birdies on holes 5, 7, 9, 13, 15, and 16, and managing a one-putt bogey on the 17th hole and a par on the last hole for the win.

Rayhan’s performance throughout the tournament included 20 birdies, four bogeys, one double, and the rest pars, with only five dropped shots over 72 holes. He plans to spend a few days resting in India with his extended family before returning to Dubai to join his parents. His upcoming tournaments include the DP World Tour Qualifying School and the Korn Ferry Qualifying School in the US.

The PGTI, sponsored by Tata Steel, is the governing body for professional golf in India, established in 2006. Final Results (Par 72, 6,540 Yards): Thomas (Ind) 70, 67, 69, 68, 274; Gandas (Ind) 71, 65, 72, 67, 275; Sharma (Ind) 69, 65, 71, 71, 276.