Shubhankar wins Joburg Open, gets British Open card
JOHANNESBURG: Indian Shubhankar Sharma completed his maiden European Tour triumph Monday in Johannesburg by winning the Joburg Open tournament he almost did not compete in. He carded a three-under-par last-round 69 to finish three strokes clear of South African Eric van Rooyen in an event that stretched to five days because of bad weather.
Thanks to the win, he secured a spot at next year’s British Open.
The final round was suspended on Sunday due to torrential rain, lightning and hail and resumed Monday at 0730 local time.
Sharma birdied three holes on the outward trek, then parred all the inward-nine holes with immaculate approach shots and putting highlights of his game.
After three bogeys during his opening-round 69 last Thursday, Sharma played 55 holes without dropping a shot and his secondround 61 was the lowest score of the tournament.
Visa delays and tiredness after a long Asian Tour campaign left the 21-year-old Indian contemplating missing the tri-sanctioned European Tour, Asian Tour and South African Sunshine Tour event.
His late decision to visit South Africa for the first time paid rich dividends as he pocketed a 2.6 million rand (~1.23 crore/ $190,000) first prize.
Victory also guaranteed Sharma, along with Van Rooyen and joint third Shaun Norris of South Africa, places at the 2018 British Open in Carnoustie next July. “I am thrilled that I came to the Joburg Open,” said Sharma after adding to five victories on the Indian circuit.
“It has been a very long Asian 21 Country Club 2013
DLF Golf & Five top-10 finishes
Became the youngest
Indian to win on the European Tour
Monday’s win has allowed him to secure a spot at the 2018 Open Championship and playing rights on European Tour for three seasons.
Jumped to sixth spot on the Asian Tour’s order of merit and No 2 on European Tour’s order of merit
Tour season for me so I was considering whether I wanted to visit South Africa. I am really happy that I did.”
The previous best European Tour finish for the golfer ranked 462 in the world was sharing ninth place at the Maybank Championship in Kuala Lumpur last February.
“Winning the Joburg Open on my first trip to South Africa is a wonderful feeling,” Sharma said after receiving the trophy from Johannesburg mayor and golfer Herman Mashaba. “I met my caddie for the first time last Monday and we worked so well together. Heeding his advice was a key factor in my success.”