Sharma races to six- shot lead
Gurgaon’s Shubhankar Sharma fired a six- under 66 to open up a six- stroke lead on the penultimate day of the PGTI Ahmedabad Masters at the Kalhaar Blues & Greens in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
After 54 holes, Shubhankar was on 16- under 200. Bengaluru’s K. Chikkarangappa , who shot a one- under- 71 on the third day, was second on 10- under- 206.
Shubhankar ( 69- 65- 66), the overnight leader by one stroke, picked up his first shot of the day on the fourth where he landed his approach within five feet of the flag.
The 18- year- old suffered a minor setback on the par- 3 seventh as his tee shot found the slope of the bunker and resulted in a bogey.
Shubhankar, who holds the distinction of being the youngest winner on the PGTI at age 17, produced four straight birdies from the eighth through the 11th courtesy some accurate iron- play.
He sank his longest putt of the day, a 25- footer, on the 11th.
The youngster opened up a big gap over the rest of the field with an eagle on the 14th and birdie on the 17th hole.
“I think today’s round was my best effort of the week so far considering the conditions were the toughest as compared to the first two days. The wind was a major factor through the day. The eagle on the 14th really spurred me on. The 14th has been a profitable hole for me as I eagled it in Round Two as well and birdied it on Day One,” said Shubhankar.
“I have to keep up the intensity in the final round in order to stay ahead. I have to set myself a target and play accordingly,” he added.
Chikkarangappa ( 69- 66- 71), overnight joint second, sank seven birdies against four bogeys and a double- bogey in his round of 71.
Anirban Lahiri’s 2014 course record of eight- under 64 was under threat from M. Dharma ( 69- 72- 66) of Bengaluru as the latter was eight- under through 14 holes thanks to an eagle and six birdies.
He, however, dropped two shots towards the end to return a 66. He closed the day in tied third at nine- under- 207.
Noida’s Rahul Bajaj ( 68- 67- 72), overnight tied second, joined Dharma in third place after his even- par- 72 on Thursday. Bajaj mixed six birdies with four bogeys and a double- bogey.
Another Bengaluru lad Khalin Joshi was fifth at eight- under 208, while Kolkata’s Rahil Gangjee and Sanjeev Kumar of Lucknow shared sixth position at seven- under 209.