By Rahul Banerji
Shubhankar Sharma and Gaganjeet Bhullar had contrasting final rounds to bring in mid-table finishes at the Kenya Savannah Classic in Nairobi on Friday.
Sharma (69-69-69-66) closed with a 5-under 71 to climb 24 places and into a share of 30th on 11-under 273, 10 shots behind eventual winner Daniel van Tonder.
The 30-year-old South African came through on a third play-off hole against Thailand’s Jazz Janewattanond for his maiden European Tour win and fifth title overall.
For his part, Bhullar (70-67-66-72) lost ground on Friday with a 1-over card for a T42 placing on the leader-board.
Low scores
On a low-scoring final day at the Karen Country Club in Nairobi, Sharma had six birdies against one dropped shot.
Overall it was a steady round as compared to the previous two days when he swapped birdies and an eagle for bogeys and a triple. Overall, Sharma will be happy with his four straight sub-par rounds in the week.
Bhullar endured a difficult time with two bogeys and a double on the front nine and though he was steady on his way home, it was costly on a day Italy’s Nino Bertasio had gone 8-under and all of the top-5 were 7-under.
For van Tonder though, it was a day of highs after he got the better of Janewattananond with a birdie on the third play-off hole.
It gave the Thai star his best European Tour finish since a tied second place at the 2017 Fiji International.
England’s Sam Horsfield and Scotland’s Calum Hill went 7-under 64 each to share third place on 20 under.
David Drysdale, of Scotland, and South Africa’s Jacques Kruyswijk finished two shots further back in a tie for fifth place on 18-under par.
Birdie rush
van Tonder joined the birdie rush on Friday with a 7-under of his own to catch Janewattananond on 21 under par.
After both players parred the first two play-off holes on the 18th, van Tonder converted a short birdie putt following a sublime approach against par for Jazz.
“I was struggling last week, but this week I found everything and was very happy,” van Tonder was quoted as saying later.
“I knew if I gave myself some putting chances, I’d make one sooner or later.
“I’ve been working hard. Last year I had four wins on the Sunshine Tour, my stroke average was quite low – then Covid happened and it made everything a bit hard travel-wise and getting in to tournaments.
“It wasn’t easy. I had to work hard and keep myself motivated. It paid off, so I’m very happy.”
Also read: Lahiri, Sharma rediscover their mojo, and form, on tour
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