Sharma makes it look easy
India’s Shubhankar Sharma made it look simple as he eased his way to a three-stroke victory in the 2017 Joburg Open.
AFTER a rain-delayed finish to the Joburg Open, India’s Shubhankar Sharma made it all look terribly simple as he eased his way to a three-stroke victory in the co-sanctioned Sunshine Tour, European Tour and Asian Tour event on December 11.
Sharma carded a final-round three-under-par 69 on the Firethorn course at Randpark Golf Club as the players returned to complete the final round, which was postponed following the previous day’s thunderstorms. That gave him a comfortable buffer over runner-up Erik van Rooyen, who in turn had a three-stroke margin over South African Shaun Norris and Finland’s Tapio Pulkannen.
“Mentally I was really calm,” said the 21-year-old Sharma, who carried himself like a veteran in trying conditions. “Obviously I couldn’t sleep last night. I woke up like three times. It was raining so hard, it kept hitting the window and I kept waking up. But I’m so happy that it’s finished now and I won. And now I will go back home and celebrate with my family.”
He has another reason to celebrate: The Joburg Open is part of The Open Championship Qualifying Series, and the top three players inside the top 10 not otherwise qualified all played their way into next year’s event at Carnoustie in July.
Van Rooyen and Norris will join him there.
Photo: Luke Walker/Getty Images
“The Open Championship is my favourite major,” said Sharma as he stood next to the venerable Claret Jug. “It’s the one I watch on television, and to think that I’m going to be playing in it next year is fantastic. Just to think that I have a chance to be associated with the names that are on the Claret Jug is very exciting.”
Van Rooyen tried valiantly to chase down Sharma, but a battling two-under 70 in the third round, and missed opportunities on two of the par-fives in the final round, ultimately cost him. “I don’t think anyone wants to finish second,” van Rooyen said. “Look, Sharma played some incredible golf, so hats off to him. He did really, really well. I tried to put some pressure on him but couldn’t quite get it going on the back nine the way I would have liked, but all credit to him because he played some fantastic golf.”
For Sharma, it is all about recalibrating his career expectations now. “It’s absolutely fantastic that I have status on these three tours now,” he said. “The Asian Tour, being my own tour, gave me an opportunity to come and play here, and I’m very happy that I could get my title for the European Tour. I can’t wait to play all the big events and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Sharma will be among those teeing off at the BMW SA Open Championship, proudly hosted by the City of Ekurhuleni, in January.
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