Europe continues to be profitable for Shubhankar, Diksha

By Rahul Banerji

India’s leading stars in Europe, Shubhankar Sharma and Diksha Dagar, had mixed fortunes at their respective events over the weekend.

While Sharma brought in a top 10 finish at the Horizon Irish Open, Diksha took a share of 21^st place at the Big Green Egg Open in the Netherlands.

The result helped cement Diksha’s third place in the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit, the Race to Costa Del Sol while on the men’s side, Sharma climbed 16 places to 49^th in the Race to Dubai rankings.

Dagar’s Hilversum performance continues a run that has seen her world ranking climb from 416 to 156, and her Paris Olympic qualification standing go from 60^th to 42^nd at present.

With a handful of events to go including the Hero Women’s Indian Open next month, a top-10 final placing in the LET’s merit list will hand the left-hander an opportunity to gain status on the LPGA Tour via the six-round Q Series in Mobile, Alabama, later this year.

Meanwhile, Sharma led or co-led at the Horizon Irish Open for the first two days before a third-round 3 over card damaged his prospects.

Late recovery

On Sunday, along with the rest of the leading pack, he was forced off the course for 90 minutes when thunder and lightning threatened the K Club area but recovered well late to take a share of seventh place on 11 under par 277.

It was Sharma’s second cut in the last five starts after The Open in July.

At the top, Vincent Norrman continued a profitable spell for Swedish golfers with a second DP World Tour title in just 14 starts, firing a bogey-free final round to pip a world class field.

Norrman’s flawless 65 in the weather-affected final round gave him a one-shot victory after he started the day six shots off the lead.

Six birdies in eight holes however, changed the complexion of his chase though he had to wait through the weather interruption and for the leaders to finish before officially being handed the win.

After pulling off some valuable par saves over the closing holes, the Swede completed his round with a close-range birdie on the 18th to set the clubhouse target at 14 under par.

Anxious wait

But with a large chasing pack – which included world Number two Rory McIlroy – breathing down his neck further back down the course, he had an anxious wait to discover whether his total was good enough.

With third-round leader Hurly Long slipping backwards on the final stretch and no one else threatening his score, Norrman secured his second title of the 2023 season following his maiden triumph at the Barbasol Championship in July.

Norrman’s victory continued a sensational fortnight for Swedish golf following Ludvig Åberg’s victory at last week’s Omega European Masters.

Germany’s Long finished alone in second place on 13 under after birdieing the last to complete his final-round 72.

Home favourite Shane Lowry finished in a tie for third after his roller-coaster 68, alongside Ryan Fox, Grant Forrest and Thriston Lawrence.

Sunday thriller

In Hilversum, a thrilling final day at the Big Green Egg Open ended with Trichat Cheenglab of Thailand landing her maiden LET title as the rookie shot a 5 under 67 to win by one shot.

With seven players tied at the top prior to play a Sunday showdown beckoned at Hilversum, but Cheenglab sank six birdies to pip Lydia Hall and Denmark’s Nicole Broch Estrup to the title on 12-under par.

“I’m very happy,” the 28-year-old said. “I didn’t think my first victory would come this fast! Today I just did what I had to do. I made a lot of birdies.”

Playing in the final group alongside Welsh duo Chloe Williams and Hall, Cheenglab birdied her opening hole at the par-5 as the latter eagled to take the solo lead.

With Estrup making birdies for fun further up the course – five in her first seven holes – Cheenglab posted birdies on the 3rd, 7th, and 8th holes to go out in 32 – one shot less than Hall who looked the player to beat.

Cheenglab is the second rookie to win on the LET this season after Patricia Isabel Schmidt at the Belgian Ladies Open.

She also became the seventh Thai LET winner, joining Pornanong Phatlum, Ariya Jutanugarn, Thidapa Suwannapura, Supamas Sangchan, Pajaree Anannarukarn and Atthaya Thittikul in the circle.

Also read: Shubhankar Sharma in share of halfway lead at Irish Open