Sharma finishes close third at Nedbank Challenge in SA

By Rahul Banerji

Shubhankar Sharma narrowly missed out on a win and settled for third place at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in Sun City, South Africa, on Sunday.

The former Asian Tour Order of Merit winner finished on nine-under par 279. behind England’s defending champion Tommy Fleetwood (277) and Ryan Fox of New Zealand (278) after briefly having led the field.

Fleetwood fired a five-under 67 against a 68 from Fox and Sharma’s 69 on the final day.

Malaysia’s Gavin Green finished in sole possession of seventh on six-under 282.

It was the second top-five placing of the season after Aby Dhabi for Sharma, the 2018 DP World (European) Tour rookie of the year, and took him to 26^th in the tour rankings, up 24 places from the previous week.

Changing fortunes

On a day of swinging fortunes at the Gary Player Country Club, the lead changed hands more than a few times with overnight leaders Rasmus Højgaard and Thomas Detry making the early running.

An enforced break in play from an impending followed by which time Hoigaard had taken the sole lead but the chasing pack of Fleetwood, Fox and Sharma were also on the move.

Fleetwood and Sharma took advantage of a slip by Hoigaard, the pair moving to ten under with birdies at the par-five ninth, europeantour.com adds.

Sharma posted another at the tenth while Fleetwood could only par as Fox joined the party.

Fox started with six straight pars then birdied four in a row. He left himself around eight feet on the first two, missed an eagle on the third and then holed an 11-footer for his fourth gain.

Miracle eagle

Fleetwood slipped back after a bogey after the turn but a terrific eagle holed from a fairway bunker turned things back in his favour.

Sharma and Fox birdied – playing in the same group — rolled in their birdie putts and the three walked to the 15th tee sharing the lead.

Sharma’s challenge ended with bogeys at 16 and 17 and when Fleetwood tapped in for par at the last, after almost sinking a huge birdie attempt, Fox posted his only bogey of the day at the worst possible moment.

It was Fleetwood’s sixth win on the DP World Tour and the first at the event after 2019 when it was last held due to the pandemic.

Sharma, now in ninth year as pro, had missed the cut in three of his last five starts and will now go into the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai this week in good heart.

Also read: T2 finish for Shubhankar Sharma at Abu Dhabi Championship