Dec 05, 2019: India’s Shubhankar Sharma is hoping to end his season on a high note as he tees off in his last event of the year at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open which starts on Thursday.
Just 12 months ago, Sharma had the world at his feet when he became the fifth Indian to win the prestigious Asian Tour Order of Merit. But since then, the 23-year-old has found success hard to come by as he relinquishes his merit crown to Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond.
By his own admission, Sharma conceded it has been a lackluster season with only his recent results in Italy and Turkey helping to bring back some cheers.
A good result at the Heritage Golf Club where he finished tied-27th in his AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open debut in 2017 would restore that much needed confidence as he closes his season on the Indian Ocean island.
Bangladeshi Siddikur Rahman is also determined to end the year with a flourish. With a proud record at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open where he finished second in 2016, Siddikur is hopeful of winning again for the first time since his last victory on the Asian Tour in 2013.
Philippines’ Miguel Tabuena, who finished tied-fifth at the Heritage Golf Club in 2017, is confident he can raise to the occasion again as he goes in search for his third win on the Asian Tour this week.
The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open was inaugurated in 2015 and was the first tournament to be tri-sanctioned by the Asian Tour, Sunshine Tour and European Tour.
Did you know?
- Sharma started his 2019 season with a tied-second finish at the PGTI Players Championship on his domestic circuit and was not only until October and November when he finished tied-seven in Italy and Turkey respectively.
- 2018 was a standout year for Sharma who captured his second Asian Tour title at the Maybank Championship before going on to become the youngest Indian to play in all four Major Championships.
- Apart from his Asian Tour Order of Merit win, the Indian was also conferred the prestigious Arjuna Award back home and named as the European Tour Rookie of the Year.
- Bangladeshi Siddikur Rahman led by one shot at the start of the final day in 2016 but a double-bogey on 16 and a bogey on 17 saw him sign for a disappointing 74 to take second place behind Korea’s Jeunghun Wang then.
- Siddikur has two top-10 finishes in Chinese Taipei and India this year. His last win on the Asian Tour came in 2013 when he won the Hero Indian Open.
- Siddikur worked as a ball boy at Kurmitola Golf Club in Bangladesh to support his studies. He made his first club with a broken seven iron head stuck on a metal rod.
- Miguel Tabuena went into the final round of the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open just one shot back of the leaders in 2017.
- Playing through a wrist injury, Tabuena eventually carded a 71 on the final day to claim a share of fifth place.
- The Filipino came close to lifting his third Asian Tour title at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters in October but settled for a share of second place after a final round 72.
Asian Tour Release
