{"id":35746,"date":"2017-12-12T09:55:43","date_gmt":"2017-12-12T09:55:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/indiansportsnews.co.in\/?p=35746"},"modified":"2017-12-12T09:55:43","modified_gmt":"2017-12-12T09:55:43","slug":"india-s-shubhankar-sharma-wins-joburg-open-secures-open-spot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indiansportsnews.co.in\/?p=35746","title":{"rendered":"India\u2019s Shubhankar Sharma wins Joburg Open, secures Open spot"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"India's<\/strong><\/p>\n

RANDPARK, Johannesburg, December 11:<\/strong> India\u2019s Shubhankhar Sharma overcame a lengthy weather delay and a Monday finish to win the Joburg Open by three strokes at Randpark Golf Club here on Monday.<\/p>\n

Shubhankar, who is sponsored by Take Solutions, DLF Golf & Country Club and Indorama Ventures PLc., closed with a round of 69 to claim the biggest victory of his career on 23 under par. He took home a winner\u2019s prize purse of US$191,532 and received 17 Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) for his win. South Africa\u2019s Erik van Rooyen finished second on 20 under with a final round of 66.<\/p>\n

After a heavy thunderstorm forced the suspension of Sunday\u2019s final round, play resumed on the Firethorn course on Monday morning. Shubhankar led Van Rooyen by four strokes with 11 holes to play on the Firethorn course. The 21-year-old rising star of Indian golf started the final round with a five-stroke lead and birdied the second hole to climb six strokes clear of the field. Van Rooyen made four birdies in five holes from the third to make a contest of it.<\/p>\n

Shubhankar returned on Monday morning and birdied the ninth, which was the last birdie he would and also needed to make.<\/p>\n

The victory was even more special for the talented Indian as he won in the country of his golfing idol Ernie Els, who he met as an 11-year-old boy at the Delhi Golf Club in 2007. Shubhankar caught the attention of Els at a golf clinic and after watching him hit a seven iron, the \u2018Big Easy\u2019 gave him an autographed business card and said, \u201cWell when you grow up, I\u2019ll be your agent.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"SouthVan Rooyen did his best to chase down the leader, adding birdies at nine and 12. But he will be left to rue his third round of 70, which left him with too much ground to make up in the final round.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt feels fantastic,\u201d Shubhankar said of his victory. \u201cI\u2019m glad I made the decision to come here after thinking about not coming. It has been absolutely fantastic and the people are very welcoming. I don\u2019t think I will ever forget this week. This is my first win on the Asian Tour and the European Tour so it means a lot to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite having a five-stroke lead at the start of the final round, Shubhankar stayed true to his strategy of playing aggressively.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn the first day there were 240 players. I was just trying to play two good rounds to make the cut and the cut was really low. I was playing well and had a great start on the second day which got things going for me. As soon as I reached -13 after two days, I thought I had a chance to win.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe only thing I was telling myself was to stay aggressive. I never wanted to be defensive. Even when I was leading I never thought of defending my lead. I actually set a target of 25 under.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter yesterday\u2019s rain delay I was walking back to the clubhouse and I saw Erik (van Rooyen) had just hit it to two feet so that was a birdie and it would narrow the gap to three shots. In golf, three shots is nothing. We\u2019ve seen people drop shots. I just imagined that there was an invisible guy playing in my group and he was on 25-under. I was just trying to catch that invisible guy. I didn\u2019t quite catch him but I\u2019m happy that I won.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would love to play in the South African Open and meet Ernie Els. I met him in Macao two years ago. He is such a wonderful guy, not only in South Africa but in world golf. What happened to me in 2007 obviously changed everything for me. I was so happy and I framed the card. It just shows that small things from great players like him go a long way. I was only an 11-year-old boy back then.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere were a lot of nerves. I got up like four times. I couldn\u2019t sleep because it was raining so hard and I kept getting up. You have nothing to lose if you are chasing someone. It is very tough to maintain your lead. You just need to look at the bigger picture. If you played so well for three days, there\u2019s no reason why you won\u2019t play well in the final round. There were a few nervy moments but I\u2019m glad I pulled through.<\/p>\n

Shubhankar also led the three qualifying spots into The Open from this tournament. Van Rooyen and Shaun Norris took the other two for next year\u2019s Major at Carnoustie.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlaying in The Open is everyone\u2019s dream. Personally it is my favourite Major championship. I\u2019ve watched it every year on television and to be playing in it next year is absolutely fantastic,\u201d signed off Shubhankar.<\/p>\n

Did you know?<\/strong><\/p>\n