Sharma, Wallace front-runners
>> NEW DELHI: India’s Shubhankar Sharma and Matt Wallace of England share the lead heading into today’s final round of the Indian Open after DLF Golf and Country Club truly bared its teeth in the third round yesterday.
Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo entered the third round four shots ahead but he ended it two behind after a six-over-par 78 that was indicative of the scoring on a day when just nine players fired underpar rounds in the tournament cosanctioned by the European Tour and Asian Tour.
Wallace was one of those with a 70 and local hero Sharma joined him on 209 after a 72.
Scot Stephen Gallacher produced the round of the day with a 67 to sit a shot off the lead on 210, one ahead of Grillo, England’s Andrew Johnston and Austrian Matthias Schwab.
Race to Dubai leader Sharma was five over after nine holes on Thursday but will have a vociferous home support behind him as he goes in search of a third win of the season today.
“I’m just looking forward to playing out there again,” Sharma said.
“I just want to have fun. It’s the second week in the row I’m in the leading group. I’m going to draw from my experiences last week. I know it’s going to be a battle out there tomorrow and I’ll be ready for it.
“I kept telling my caddie that this is our home course, you can’t overpower this course. So, I told myself, just hang in there. I will hit a few bad shots and I understand that it’s all part of the game. You just have to stay patient.”
Wallace gained his European Tour membership with last season’s wire-to-wire win at the Portugal Open and will be looking for second victory.
“I’m very happy,” he said. “There are some brilliant players out there. You know there is going to be a charge tomorrow and someone is going to play well. I just have to go out there and try to execute like I did today and see how it goes.
“I’m going to rock up tomorrow and do the same as I’ve done all week. It’s such a hard golf course that you have got to play well. I’ll try to get a good night of sleep tonight and go from there.”