Overnight leader Shubhankar Sharma of Chandigarh saw his advantage cut to two shots on Moving Day of the Kapil Dev Invitational Tour Championship at Jaypee Greens in Greater Noida on Friday. Image courtesy DP World PGTI.
Shubhankar sees Jaypee Greens lead trimmed on Moving Day
By Rahul Banerji
Shubhankar Sharma came through an anxious back nine to retain a reduced overnight lead on Moving Day at the Kapil Dev Invitational Tour Championship at Jaypee Greens in Greater Noida.
The season-ending Rs 2 crore event is presented by Vishwa Samudra and powered by Nalco, the DP World PGTI said.
Shubhankar began the day with a four-stroke advantage and started strongly with five birdies over the first 10 holes before hitting a rough patch that saw him give away three bogeys and a double to remain at 11 under par 205 heading into the final round.
The 30-year-old has had rounds of 68, 65 and 72 and sits two shots ahead of Bangalore teenager Manoj S. (70-71-66) and Italy’s Michele Ortolani (72-70-65) who are at 9 under 207.
Manoj climbed from sixth place after making six birdies in a bogey-free 66. Ortolani rose from seventh overnight also with a blemish-free 7 under 65, the joint low score of the day.
Last year’s DP World PGTI Order of Merit champion Yuvraj Sandhu (71-69-69) of Chandigarh made a 3 under 69 to occupy fourth place on 7 under 209.
Shubhankar made four birdies on the front nine before adding another on the 10th.
Late wobble
However, the Chandigarh golfer wobbled with three bogeys and a double over the closing stretch that saw his lead shrink from four strokes to two.
“It was an up-and-down day,” Shubhankar said later. “I started strongly but the back nine was disappointing because I missed a few opportunities coming in and dropped some shots.
“However, I’m still playing good golf and have plenty to look forward to tomorrow.
“Hopefully, I can carry the momentum from today’s front nine through all 18 holes in the final round.”
Chandigarh’s Brashwarpal Singh (72-65-73) and in-form Bangalore player Khalin Joshi (72-67-71) shared fifth place at 6 under 210.
Joshi, a four-time winner on the DP World PGTI this season, began the week second in the Race to DP World India Championship.
Current leader Saptak Talwar (75-72-72) climbed from tied 31st to T25 on 3 over 219.
Friday’s Pro-Am was won by the team of Tapendra Ghai and amateur Prem Duggal on 48 Stableford points.
Also read: Shubhankar Sharma eases to four-shot lead at Tour C’ship
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