First professional win for English rising golf star Joshua Berry
First professional win for 19-year-old Joshua Berry at the Kolkata Challenge on the HotelPlanner Tour.
Rising English golf star Joshua Berry captured his first professional win at the Kolkata Challenge on the HotelPlanner Tour.
Berry, 19, emerged from a four-man playoff victorious to claim a maiden victory on the DP World Tour's lower-tier HotelPlanner Tour, formerly known as the Challenge Tour.
The Doncaster-born golfer closed with a round of 1-over par 73 to end up in a playoff on 11-under par.
Berry then made birdie on the second extra playoff hole to defeat Norwegian Andreas Halvorsen, Austrian Lukas Nemecz and Indian Om Prakash Chouhan.
The Englishman rocketed into contention when he broke the course record with a stunning 62 in the second round at Royal Calcutta GC.
He then carded rounds 70 and 73 before sealing the deal on Sunday.
“I’m absolutely buzzing, this win is important and it’s good for my confidence as well," said a relieved Berry.
"I know I can do it now, which I think is the key thing.
“I did feel some nerves but that’s what you practice for. I’m looking forward to watching that putt in the playoff back.”
Unreal feeling , thank you to all my sponsors and coaches for making this possible . My 1st win as a professional golfer . It’s something I’ve dreamed about for a long time . Thank you to everyone for the messages . ❤️🏆 pic.twitter.com/LueoeB2Ia5
— Joshua Berry (@joshuaberry2005) March 16, 2025
Berry added: “You’ve always got to be confident going into a playoff but obviously it’s nerve-racking. You really want to win, and I just tried to hit one good shot at a time.
"Luckily, I holed that putt on the second extra hole. It’s a game of such fine margins.”
Watch: Josh Berry: Making The Cut - Debut Season On The DP World Tour
Berry holed a 20-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole to clinch the title.
The win now takes Berry to fourth in the season-long Road to Mallorca Rankings, and it comes after he recorded his best DP World Tour finish three weeks ago with a tied seventh in the Magical Kenya Open.
“I learned a lot last year in my first year as a professional," said Berry.
“I played 37 events between the DP World Tour and HotelPlanner Tour, so you’re going to learn a lot playing that many events. I love every bit of it though.”
The top three of the Road to Mallorca Rankings remain the same, with South Africans Daniel van Tonder and Wilco Nienaber first and second, and Englishman Jamie Rutherford in third.
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