Columbus (US): Shubhankar Sharma’s magnificent year continued as the Indian grabbed a spot in next week’s US Open Golf Championships with a solid display of 69-68 in the qualifiers here Tuesday. The prestigious tournament will be held at the Shinnecock Hills.
In the qualifiers held at Brookside GCC and Lakes Golf and Country Club, the 21-year-old Shubhankar was tied fifth. Two other Indians — Shiv Kapur — playing the qualifier at Walton Heath, Surrey — Arjun Atwal — playing in Tennessee — failed to earn a spot.
A thrilled Sharma said, “It was a great day for me. It was a long one with 36 holes but I am glad I played the Brookside in the morning as it is tougher with smaller greens. I grinded it out for a 69.”
“But it was nervy ending on the 18th (in second round). I hit to the left off the tee and it took a bad bounce and it went into the rough. I had a terrible lie and I had to hit with one foot in the bunker with 150 yards to the front of the green.”
Shrugging aside the disappointment of missing the cut at the Memorial, Sharma shot 3-under 69 with six birdies and three bogeys in the first round. In the second round he was all aggression as he eagled the Par-5 third and added birdies on fifth and seventh and turned in 4-under for the round and 7-under for the qualifiers.
A double bogey on Par-3 11th threatened his campaign before he showed great determination to hole back-to-back birdies on 15th and 16th and hold on to pars on last two holes.
Korea’s Sungjae Im (67-68) shared the top spot with Shane Lowry (68-67). Keegan Bradley (66-70) and Brian Gay (68-68) were Tied-3rd, while Sharma was Tied-5th with Russell Knox, Michael Putnam and two others.
Kapur, who has qualified in the past from Surrey, shot 74 in the first round and then withdrew. Arjun Atwal missed qualifying from Tennessee as he shot 72-71. Sam Burns, Steve Stricker and Aaron Wise were among the 11 players making the US Open from there.