Sharma disappoints in last round, finishes tied 10th
Overnight joint leader Shubhankar Sharma could not play his best golf on the final day, managing only an even par round to finish Tied10th at the $7 million CIMB Classic on Sunday.
Coming on the heels of a period during which he has had six missed cuts in nine starts, a joint lead by round three augured well for the 22-year-old from India. However, it did not turn out be his day and he was understandably disappointed at not being able to convert his second career 54-hole lead into a maiden PGA Tour title.
The genial Australian Marc Leishman, who came close to quitting the game in 2015 when his wife was discovered with a rare life-threatening condition, continued his fine run to win his fourth title on the PGA Tour.
Leishman, playing a very high level of golf since his second round 62, carded a 7-under 65, that took his total to 26-under 262, equalling the tournament record set in 2015 by Justin Thomas.
Leishman ended five shots ahead of second placed trio -first round leader, Bronson Burgoon (68), Emiliano Grillo (66) and Chesson Hadley (66) -- who finished T-2 with 21-under 267.
Among other Indians, Gaganjeet Bhullar had a good finish with a 7-under 65 that lifted him 15 places up to T-27 as he ended at 13-under 275 despite a closing bogey.
After a sedate first nine holes, Bhullar was fired up with five birdies and an eagle in eight holes from first to the eighth and carded 65. Anirban Lahiri (70) was 4-under 284 for the week, while Rahil Gangjee (72) was 5-over and T-75th.
Sharma, who had two bogeys in his first six holes, came back strongly with four birdies from 7th to 10th, only to lose the momentum over the next three holes, which he bogeyed.
“Sure, it was disappointing to finish T-10 after being in lead, but I would gave gladly taken this before the start, coming from where I was before this week. A Top-10, my second one on the PGA Tour and a 19-under total is not bad. It gives me a good feeling for next two weeks in Korea and Shanghai,” said Sharma.