Shubhankar blazes course with day’s best 64, jumps to tied 26th
JEJU ISLAND (SOUTH KOREA): Shubhankar Sharma blazed through the first nine in 6-under 30 on way to carding an 8-under 64, leapfrogging 45 places to be T-26 by the third round of The CJ Cup here on Saturday. It was the day’s best card and saw Sharma zoom from T-71st to T-26.
Sharma, who shot 74-75 on first two days and was 5-over for 36 holes, is now 3-under for 54 holes but 10 shots behind leader Brooks Koepka (67). Koepka, who can become world No 1 with a win this week, is 13-under 203, while Ian Poulter (68) is tied for second place with second-round leader Scott Piercy (72) with 9-under 207.
The third round sizzler brought a huge smile on Sharma’s face. “I knew before that I had to go low to have any chance going into the weekend. I had four birdies in the first five after starting from the 10th. That’s always good when you’re 4 under after five. Then I made two more on the 17th and the 18th to go out in 6-under. I had a great start. Everything just kind of turned around for me,” he said.
There were six golfers tied for fourth, including Rafa Cabrera Bello (65) and first-round leader Chez Reavie (70). The others were Pat Perez (68), Cameron Smith (67), Jamie Lovemark (68) and Gary Woodland (68). Current world No 4 Justin Thomas shot a 71 and is at 1-under, 11 strokes behind Koepka and tied for 43rd.
ADITI DROPS TO TIED 49TH IN SHANGHAI
SHANGHAI: Indian golfer Aditi Ashok dropped three bogeys on the back nine to card three-over 75 to be placed tied 49th on the third day of the Buick LPGA golf here on Saturday.
Aditi, who was even par for two rounds, is now three-over 219 for 54 holes. She had two birdies and two bogeys on front nine and three more bogeys on back nine. Spaniard Carlota Ciganda (67), who started the third day four shots behind the leader, and Sei Young Kim (71) caught up and the two shared the third round lead at 11-under 205.
Four players, including Ariya Jutanugarn (71) were tied at third at 10-under 206.