Joshua Berry Takes One-Shot Lead into Final Round at Kolkata Challenge
HotelPlanner Tour
Seoul, Korea – England’s Joshua Berry will take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the Kolkata Challenge at Royal Calcutta Golf Club, as he looks to secure his first HotelPlanner Tour title.
Berry, who set a course record 62 on day two, battled through sweltering conditions to post a two-under-par 70 in the third round, moving to 12-under for the tournament. He leads Austrian Lukas Nemecz by one shot heading into Sunday’s finale.
A Battle in the Heat
The 19-year-old Englishman started the day tied for the lead with India’s Om Prakash Chouhan but faced early struggles, dropping two shots at the 2nd and 3rd holes. However, Berry recovered with a birdie at the 9th to close the gap at the top.
As temperatures soared to nearly 40 degrees in Tollygunge, patience proved key. Berry found his rhythm late in the round, making back-to-back birdies at the 14th and 15th, followed by another at the par-four 17th, to reclaim outright first place.
“It was a bit of a grind,” said Berry. “It was brutal out there at times, but I’m proud of how I came back. The front nine is tricky, but you just have to stay patient. There are some tough par fours, so keeping the ball in play is crucial.”
Challengers in Pursuit
With a maiden professional title within reach, Berry is focused on maintaining his momentum.
“It would mean a lot to win tomorrow,” he said. “I’ll just try to take it one shot at a time and see where that puts me.”
Sitting two shots back at 10-under-par are Austrian Maximilian Steinlechner and Norwegian Andreas Halvorsen, tied for third place. Meanwhile, Chouhan and England’s George Bloor are one stroke further behind in fifth place at 9-under.
A trio of players, Portugal’s Tomas Gouveia, Spain’s Albert Boneta, and Australia’s Hayden Hopewell, round out the top seven at 8-under-par.
Final Round Tee Times
The final round begins at 7:00 AM local time, with Berry teeing off alongside Nemecz and Steinlechner at 9:01 AM. With fast greens, firm fairways, and scorching temperatures, Sunday promises an exciting finish at Royal Calcutta Golf Club.