Career-best round gives Akshay Sharma breakthrough win at QA InfoTech Open

Rahul Banerji

Chandigarh’s Akshay Sharma hit a career-best seven-under-65 in the final round of the QA InfoTech Open for his breakthrough PGTI win at the Noida Golf Course on Friday.

The 28-year-old, who turned professional in 2011, shot a 73, 70, 69 and 65, to end the Rs. 50 lakh event with a total of 11-under-277. His error-free fourth round was also the round of the tournament.

It gave him victory by a six-shot margin on a day there were more under par scores that the previous three put together.

Popular Sri Lankan Mithun Perera (69-71-73-70) finished a distant second at five-under-283.

Strong start

Sharma began the day trailing overnight leader Angad Cheema by two shots. Three birdies on his first three holes helped close the gap as Cheema and Perera stumbled with bogeys.

Sharma, who has had four top-10s earlier in the year, added another two birdies on the front nine to open a commanding six-shot lead at the turn.

He then played solid golf on the back-nine by sinking two long birdie putts and making seven pars to come home the champion and take away the winner’s cheque worth Rs. 8,08,250.

It helped him climb from 26th place to fifth in the PGTI Order of Merit.

Sharma said later, “I’m overjoyed. I’ve waited for my first PGTI win for almost eight years. All aspects of my game clicked today as I produced my career-best score. It couldn’t have come at a better time.

‘Jeev Sir helped’

“My game picked up in the last two seasons thanks to two people, Jeev Milkha Singh and my caddy Montu.

“I started playing rounds with Jeev Sir in Chandigarh about two years back in order to improve my game. He often shared his inputs and experience with me which really helped my game.

“Jeev Sir also motivated me before my round this morning by asking me to focus on my game and not think too much and get too ahead of myself.”

Perera had a late surge of four birdies on the last five holes that saw him sign off with a 70 to finish runner-up.

Delhi’s Arjun Prasad (71) was third at four-under-284.

Round three leader Cheema carded a 77 to finish tied 11th at one-under-287.

Jeev claimed tied 45th place at eight-over-296 with a 78 in the final round.

Rashid, Bhullar T15 in Korea

In Korea, Rashid Khan and Gagnjeet Bhullar were Tied-15^th, and within four shots of the lead at the midway stage of the $1,000,000 34th Shinhan Donghae Open at Incheon on Friday.

Rashid, a two-time Asian Tour winner, shot a 2-under 69 to take his total to 5-under 137, while Bhullar returned a 1-under 70.

Khalin Joshi (69) and Shiv Kapur (70) were the other Indians to make the cut, while Viraj Madappa (73), Ajeetesh Sandhu (72), S. Chikkarangappa (72), Jyoti Randhawa (76) and Arjun Atwal (78) missed the cut.

Rashid, looking to break a three and a half year title drought, had four birdies against two bogeys while Bhullar had three birdies and two bogeys.

Sanghyun Park of Korea, 35, carded a three-under-par 68 to maintain his lead. The 35-year-old, who ended the opening round with a two-shot lead, had a solid game from tee to green.

Season’s first for Gaurika

At the DLF Golf & Country Club, Gaurika Bishnoi completed a comfortable six-shot win after two double bogeys in the first four holes in the 14th leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour on Friday.

The 20-year-old Rohtak golfer, searching for her first win this season, shot a 3-over 75 that had three birdies, two bogeys and two doubles.

Gaurika totaled 226 and finished six shots clear of Tvesa Malik, who returned a card of 1-under 71, only the second sub-par round this week.

Amandeep Dral could have challenged Gaurika but two bogeys and a triple saw her finish the final day on a total of 233 and third place.

Millie Saroha (75) and Afshan Fatima (80) ended tied 4th.

In the first week of October, the DLF Golf & Country Club will play host to the 15th leg as well.

This will give the field an opportunity to get some more practice leading up to the Hero Women’s Indian Open later that month.