Focus now on Tvesa Malik and Shubhankar Sharma

By Rahul Banerji

Of the six Indians in action on professional golf tours in Europe and the US, only two – Tvesa Malik and Shubnahkar Sharma – have survived into the weekend rounds across three tournaments.

At the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, North Carolina, 2010 winner Arjun Atwal just missed making it into the weekend with a 2-under 138 (68-70), the cut falling at 3-under 137.

A rusty Anirban Lahiri – back in action after an enforced five-month absence – was a further two shots behind on level-par 140 (69-71).

Korea’s Si Woo Kim led the field into Saturday’s Moving Day on 10-under 130 (65-65).

In Scotland, Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar both could not make it past the initial rounds. Aditi, India’s only woman golf Olympian totalled a 9-over 151 (73-78) and Diksha had a 10-over 152 (78-74).

Links challenge

Tvesa, making her LPGA debut, has battled on the links of the Renaissance Golf Club in North Berwick from the go and her third day 8-over 79 exemplified that on Moving Day.

Making an early start would not have helped the 25-year-old either and she now sits in 69^th and second-last place in the field.

Tvesa’s troubles began early and she was a shot down by the third hole where a quadruple bogey had almost tripped her up on Friday.

Four further bogeys and two doubles after the turn – the par-3 12^th and the par-5 16^th – against a lone birdie saw her drop down to 69^th place though she has Sunday to try and make amends.

At the top of the order, Spain’s Azahara Munoz was building on her overnight position on 6-under par while co-leader Stacy Lewis of the US was a shot back and three holes to go on Saturday.

Munoz had a 68-69 sequence for top spot while Solheim Cup stalwart Lewis, who had Friday’s low round of 5-under 66, opened with a 71 on Thursday.

Lewis carded four consecutive birdies to finish her round on Friday.

Shubhankar advances

At the Celtic Classic in the Welsh city of Newport, Shubhankar entered the money rounds with cards of 71 and 70, before Saturday’s 70 saw him in a possible five-way tie for 65^th position.

The 24-year-old continued to play inconsistent golf but still had enough in his game to balance two dropped shots with three birdies on Saturday.

In all, Shubhankar has clocked nine bogeys against 11 birdies in the event so far. His first event on the US Swing – the Hero Open – resulted in a missed cut.

Winner of the Hero Open at the Forest of Arden near Birmingham, Sam Horsfield, had slipped off the lead despite opening the day at the top of the order with rounds of 67 and 64.

At the time of writing, the Englishman was a shot behind Belgium’s Thomas Pieters.

Also read: Early start for Shubhankar at Euro Tour’s Hero Open