Super Sharma Wins Joburg Open

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The Indian golfer also makes it to The Open in 2018

Shubhankar Sharma of India won the Joburg Open in sensational style on and punched his ticket to The Open in 2018.

The 21-year-old closed with a three-under-par 69 and was bogey-free in the final 54 holes as he ended his first tournament in South Africa with an impressive winning total of 23-under-par 264 at the Randpark Golf Club.

Sharma defeated home favourite Erik van Rooyen (66) by three shots while two-time Asian Tour winner Shaun Norris (65) of South Africa and Tapio Pulkkanen of Finland settled for third place at the event sanctioned by the Asian Tour, European Tour and Sunshine Tour.

“It feels fantastic. I’m 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’t 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,” said Sharma.

Van Rooyen booked a spot at Carnoustie and he will be joined by countryman Norris who earned his second appearance at The Open after being ranked higher than Pulkkanen on the Official World Golf Ranking.

Sharma showed no ill effects from the overnight delay when he returned to birdie the ninth hole before parring his way home for a 69 to become the first Asian and Indian golfer to win the R16.5 million (approximately US$1.2 million) event.

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.

Sharma caught the attention of Els at a golf clinic and after watching him hit a seven iron, the ‘Big Easy’ gave him an autographed business card and said, “Well when you grow up, I’ll be your agent.”

Scores after round 4 of the Joburg Open being played at the par 72, 7595 Yards Firethorne C course (am - denotes amateur):

• 264 - Shubhankar SHARMA (IND) 69-61-65-69.
• 267 - Erik VAN ROOYEN (RSA) 64-67-70-66.
• 270 - Shaun NORRIS (RSA) 69-68-68-65, Tapio PULKKANEN (FIN) 65-64-73-68.
• 272 - Marcus ARMITAGE (ENG) 69-66-67-70.
• 274 - Joachim B. HANSEN (DEN) 66-67-71-70, James MORRISON (ENG) 64-70-67-73.
• 275 - Paul PETERSON (USA) 70-67-69-69, Charlie FORD (ENG) 70-64-71-70, Jinho CHOI (KOR) 69-66-70-70, Daniel GREENE (RSA) 70-68-67-70, Christopher BLOMSTRAND (SWE) 70-68-62-75.
• 276 - Victor PEREZ (FRA) 73-66-69-68, Mikko KORHONEN (FIN) 66-65-75-70, Hennie DU PLESSIS (RSA) 71-67-68-70, Hennie OTTO (RSA) 70-68-67-71, Oliver BEKKER (RSA) 66-70-68-72, Ross MCGOWAN (ENG) 66-72-66-72.
• 277 - Matthew BALDWIN (ENG) 64-74-71-68, Vaughn GROENEWALD (RSA) 71-66-71-69, Dean BURMESTER (RSA) 66-73-68-70, Jaco AHLERS (RSA) 67-68-72-70, Mark FOSTER (ENG) 71-68-68-70, Aaron RAI (ENG) 69-67-71-70, Gavin GREEN (MAS) 70-67-70-70, Steven BROWN (ENG) 68-65-71-73.