Ahmedabad: Shubhankar Sharma 6 clear

Report by Anand Datla

April 02, 2015: Shubhankar Sharma is on a tear in Ahmedabad, leaving his colleagues chasing tails at the Ahmedabad Masters. The golfer from Delhi shot a 66 in the third round to take a massive six shot lead over S Chikkarangappa. For a second straight day, Sharma was in his element as he racked up six birdies and an eagle to finish the day at 16-under 200. Chikka was in second place after 54 holes, having managed only a 71 in the third round. The golfer from Bengaluru though was six adrift from Sharma at 1o-under 206.

M Dharma jumped to third on the leader board after he too made the best score on the day. His 66 contained six birdies and an eagle. Rahul Bajaj failed to make any dent in the third round, an even 72 leaving him in T3 with Dharma.

Khalin Joshi was lying fifth after scoring 71 in the third round. Rahil Gangjee was the only man without a bogey on the day, making a fine 67 to join Sanjeev Kumar in T6 at 7-under 209. The latter made a 71 with the help of five birdies.

Rashid Khan survived a bleeding sequence of four bogeys in six holes for a 72 that left him in eighth going into the final round. SSP Chawrasia was in T9 with Zamal Mollah after he made a 69 on Thursday. The Bangladeshi signed on an even par score of 72.

Shubhankar made three birdies and a bogey on the front nine, including two straight at eight and nine. Sharma made it four in a row, when he birdied ten and eleven. He did an encore when he shot an eagle again at the 14th, just as he had in the second round. But the 18th proved to be a waterloo yet again, as he surrendered a shot to close out with 66.

Chikka was all action as he shot three bogeys and four birdies during a 35 shot run on the front nine. He remained inconsistent through the back nine – a double bogey on the 13th and one at the 18th undermining the three birdies he scored. Eventually though Chikka’s 71 was enough to keep him in second going into the final round.