India in 28-strong field for Melbourne World Cup of Golf

 By Rahul Banerji

Shubhankar Sharma get the option of choosing from between Anirban Lahiri, Gaganjeet Bhullar or the next best for the 2018 ISPS Handa Melbourne World Cup of Golf, based on the Official World Golf Ranking.

If he plays, that is,

India are among six Asian nations – besides South Korea, China, Thailand, Chinese Taipei and Japan – to have qualified. The World Cup of Golf will be played at Melbourne’s Metropolitan Golf Club from November 21 to 25,

Sharma is currently ranked 96^th in the OWGR with two title wins. Lahiri is 105^th after early elimination from the FedEx Cup playoffs while Bhullar is 125^th with one win and a runner-up finish.

The rankings were finalised on September 4 after the Dell Technologies Championship. The World Cup features two-man teams from the top 28 nations.

$7 mil up for grabs

The 59^th edition of the event will see the 56-player field vie for a $7 million prize-money purse.

The top-ranked player from each qualifier has till September 13 to commit to the event. At the 2016 edition, India were represented by Shiv Shankar Prasad Chawrasia and S. Chikkarangappa after Lahiri opted out.

Full list of qualifiers: 1. USA,
2. England,
3. Spain,
4. Italy,
5. Ireland,
6. Australia,
7. Sweden,
8. Japan,
9. South Africa,
10. Thailand,
11. Denmark,
12. Korea,
13. China,
14. Argentina,
15. Canada,
16. Scotland,
17. Belgium,
18. New Zealand,
19. Venezuela,
20. France,
21. Austria,
22. India,
23. Netherlands,
24. Chinese Taipei,
25. Finland,
26. Mexico, 
27. Germany
 and 28. Chile.

Zimbabwe, Paraguay,
Malaysia,
Wales and Greece are the alternates in that order in case the higher-ranked teams opt out or lose their spot on OWGR points.

In the World Cup of Golf, only Japan and Chinese Taipei have won the event for Asia.

Once all 28 countries have their committed player, he has until September 20 to pick his partner. The full field of 56 players will be announced at that time.

For more on the 2018 Melbourne World Cup of Golf, go to WorldCupofGolf.com.

Mollah leaps into lead

Seasoned Bangladesh professional Md Zamal Hossain Mollah posted the day’s joint best score of six-under-64 to move into the second round lead at the Jaipur Open presented by Rajasthan Tourism.

The 33-year-old led the field by one at the Rambagh Golf Club with an 11-under-129.

Amateur Yuvraj Singh Sandhu of Chandigarh followed his first round 66 with a 64 to be tied for second at 10-under-130 alongside Delhi’s Honey Baisoya (65, 65).

Mollah (65-64) worked his way up from tied sixth in round one with a card that included seven birdies and a bogey.

Sandhu (21), India’s top amateur in 2016, put up an impressive show for the second day in succession. He hit seven birdies and a bogey while Baisoya chalked in a 15-foot eagle conversion, four birdies and a bogey.

Day one leader Anura Rohana of Sri Lanka slipped to tied fourth at nine-under-131 along with Delhi’s Ashok Kumar (65) and Patna’s Aman Raj (67).

Also read: Dell Tech misadventure spells abrupt end to Anirban Lahiri’s season