Shubhankar wins Joburg Open golf tournament

Johannesburg Dec 11 (IANS) Shubhankar Sharma of India won the Joburg Open golf tournament in sensational style on Monday to qualify for next year s edition of the British Open.

The 21-year-old closed with a three-under-par 69 and was bogey-free in the final 54 holes as he ended his first tournament in South Africa with an impressive winning total of 23-under-par 264 at the Randpark Golf Club.

Sharma defeated local favourite Erik van Rooyen (66) by three shots while two-time Asian Tour winner Shaun Norris of South Africa and Tapio Pulkkanen of Finland settled for third place with final round scores of 65 each.

Van Rooyen also booked a spot at the British Open and he will be joined by compatriot Norris who earned his second appearance at the prestigious tournament after being ranked higher than Pulkkanen on the official World Golf Ranking.

Sharma showed no ill effects from the overnight delay when he returned to birdie the ninth hole before parring his way home for a 69 to become the first Asian and Indian golfer to win the event.

--IANS
ajb/bg