It was a long time coming indeed, but India’s Pukhraj Singh Gill finally broke through for his maiden Asian Development Tour (ADT) victory at the ADT Players Championship presented by The R&A.

The 29-year-old clinched victory at Saujana Golf & Country Club in Malaysia in a three-way playoff with two of Asia’s rising young stars, Filipino Sean Ramos and Thai teenager Thanawin Lee.

The three players had finished 72 holes of regulation play deadlocked on 13-under-par, following a rollercoaster final day that matched the undulating fairways of Saujana’s Palm Course.

Taking a one-shot lead over Ramos into the final round, Gill started hot with three birdies over his first four holes to extend his advantage to five shots. However, dropped shots at Holes 6 and 9 and some great play by Ramos and Lee saw his advantage cut back to one.

The nail-biting action continued into the final stretch, with Lee taking the lead with a four-foot birdie at the par-three 12th hole, while Gill responded with his own birdie at the par-five 13th after finding the green in two. The Indian player made three straight bogeys from Hole 14, but neither Lee nor Ramos managed to pull away.

Gill made use of his length again at the dogleg-left par-four 17th, hitting a monster drive over the green and almost chipping in. The three players reached the par-five 18th with Lee holding a one-stroke lead on 14-under-par.

Lee looked like he had the title in the bag when his third shot rolled just off the green, but hit a poor chip and missed a 10-foot par-saver, carding a closing 68. Both Gill (72) and Ramos (71) made par to draw level and force extra time.

The playoff, contested at the 18th, saw Gill and Ramos nail birdies from 10 and three feet respectively on the first extra hole, while Lee dropped out after finding a bunker with his third shot.

The Indian then sealed victory with a superb birdie on the second sudden-death decider, hitting his third shot from a greenside bunker to six feet and sinking the putt. Ramos missed a long par putt after driving into the left rough and pushing his second shot right, behind two palm trees.

Gill was visibly elated with the victory, which in his own words “was a long time coming”.

“This feels surreal! I think it’s going to take a while to sink in, but I’m just so pumped right now. It’s been a great week in Malaysia. I was very happy with the course design, playing it for the first time – it just really suits my eye,” said Gill, who pocketed a cheque for US$19,250.

Sean Ramos

“I was really comfortable playing the 18th hole because I had a length advantage and could get there in two – and both the times I had a great drive. At the first playoff hole, that 10-foot clutch birdie was very important. And the second time, I just played it flawlessly,” added the golfer from Punjab.

Ramos put down the loss, while agonizing, as a step in the right direction as he continues to chase a win on the ADT.

“I made some changes in my swing and fortunately, It felt good here and I think I’m heading in the right direction. This is my first time getting into this position in an international event, so it feels great. Even though I lost today, I’d go through it a hundred more times,” said the 22-year-old.

For the 19-year-old Lee, this week was a learning experience in his young career, having only turned professional this year.

“I’m happy with how I played today, but it was just not good enough. I was nervous even before the playoff! This is only my fifth event as a professional and there’s a lot of work to do. I learnt a lot from the pros this week, especially from Gill and Sean today,” shared Lee.

Korean Minhyeok Yang closed with a 68 for outright fourth place on 10-under-par, one shot ahead of Singapore’s Nicklaus Chiam and Thai Nitithorn Thippong.

Fourteen amateurs had started the championship as tournament invitations, striving to finish as the top two to earn exemptions into the Final Stage of the Asian Tour’s Qualifying School. The coveted rewards to Malaysians Anson Yeo and Aiden Kei, who were the only two amateurs to make it to the last 36 holes. Both players turn 20 this year and are looking to make the professional transition.

Ranked as Malaysia’s top male amateur, Yeo closed with a superb 69 to sneak into the top-10 on six-under-par.

”Happy with how I played this week, especially today. The Final Stage exemption means a lot as and I’m grateful to the ADT and The R&A. The timing is perfect as I was planning to go for the Q-School this year. I aim to turn professional after this year’s Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship,” said Yeo.

Kei was grateful for the opportunity to play in a second ADT event, although he had a disappointing closing 77 and finished tied 36th on one-over-par.

“I’m really grateful and happy that The R&A sponsored this tournament, and to have gotten this slot. I’ll play more amateur events this year, and then I’ll try out for the Q-School. If I do well, I might turn pro,” said Kei.

The ADT Players Championship presented by The R&A is staged in partnership with the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Tour, and is the ADT’s fourth event of the 2026 season and its second stop in Malaysia.