SHARMA'S 61 PUTS HIM IN THE HUNT AS STORMS DELAY END OF ROUND 2

Joburg, South Africa, December 8: A red-hot Shubhankar Sharma of India fired his career’s low round of 10-under-par 61 to charge into contention at the halfway stage of the Joburg Open on Friday.

 

The 21-year-old, who is searching for a first Asian Tour win, fired 10 birdies at the Randpark Golf Club, par-71 Bushwillow course, to trail the leader Tapio Pulkkanen of Finland by one-shot at the R16.5 million (approximately US$1.2 million) event sanctioned by the Asian Tour, Sunshine Tour and European Tour.

LEADERBOARD
par 143 (72, 71)
129 Tapio Pulkkanen (Finland) 65 64
130 Shubhankar Sharma (India) 69 61
131 Erik Van Rooyen (S Africa) 64 67, Mikko Korhonen (Finland) 66 65.

 

The flamboyant Pulkkanen, who stood out with his fedora hat in the 240-man field, birdied his opening six holes to finish with a solid 64 at the par-72 Firethorn course for a two-day total of 14-under-par 129.

 

Sharma’s second day effort was the best score after 36 holes. He also established the lowest round on the Asian Tour’s 2017 season but it will not stand as a record as the lift, clean and place rule was in effect.

 

South Africa’s Erik van Rooyen produced a 67 to share third place with Mikko Korhonen of Finland. They trail the leader Pulkkanen by two shots in the event which was suspended at 5.24pm due to thunderstorms.

 

A total of 19 players will return at 7.30am on Saturday (local time) to complete their rounds. The projected cut is currently at four-under 139.
That would put former Scottish amateur champion Robert MacIntyre (72-67 for 139) through to the final two rounds but 
he might be the only Scot to survive the cut.
Connor Syme (73-67) and David Law (72-68) are on three-under 140.
David Drysdale (74-67) and Duncan Stewart (71-70) are on two-under 141.
Bradley Neil (69-74) is on 143.
Grant Forrest (72-75) is on 147 and Scott Henry has totalled 150 (77-73)

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Player interviews:

 

Tapio Pulkkanen (Fin) – Second Round 64 (-8), Total 129 (-14)

 

I started really well. Six birdies in a row – that was an awesome start. I had some tough times midway but I managed to get good pars and a couple of birdies on the back nine. Solid round.

 

I birdied five of those in the practice round so it was a similar feeling. It was a fantastic feeling. I tried to have a new start on the back nine. I made myself feel like I was level par and tried to make more birdies. That was the goal.

 

We (with Erik van Rooyen) had some good battles last year on the Challenge Tour and I’m looking forward to playing against him on the weekend. Yesterday I had a birdie putt on the last hole and I saw that Erik was on the board on seven-under, so I told myself I had to make that birdie putt and I did.

 

My driver has been really good. That’s been key for me. The course is perfect, no problem at all. A little bit soft greens but perfect.

 

Shubhankar Sharma (Ind) – Second Round 61 (-10), Total 130 (-13)

 

It was great. I couldn’t have done better. I made pretty much made everything I looked at. I hit the ball pretty decent and made a few key up and downs. I couldn’t have asked for a better round.

 

When I shot three-under yesterday, I went home and slept and when I woke up, so many guys were under-par! I wasn’t relaxed with a three-under-par and I really wanted to make birdies in my round. As soon as I was four-under after six, I was relaxed because I’m playing well.

 

On 17, I hit a good shot. I tried to hit a hard drive to get on the green in two but I pulled it a little bit. I told my caddy we can still make a birdie with a wedge and hit it to about four feet. That was a good birdie.

 

Bushwillow is obviously shorter than Firethorn but it is narrow. You have to be really straight off the tee if you want to attack the greens. I’m glad I came here. I’m really happy to be in the situation which I’m in.

 

It is great to have a tri-sanctioned event. It is great for the Asian players like me to come out here. It is my first time in South Africa and the courses are great. We are all looking forward to more of such events in the future.

 

It is every golfer’s dream to play in The Open but at the same time, I don’t really want to think too much about it. It is only halfway through. I want to keep my head down and keep playing. To win is a big thing and whatever comes with it is a bonus. 

 

Mikko Korhonen (Fin) – Second Round 65 (-6), Total 131 (-12)

 

Very pleased with my efforts. I didn’t feel very comfortable going out, just a little nervous and stuff, but on the back nine I started going pretty well.

 

I played Bushwillow the most in practice. It definitely helped. There’s a lot more placing the ball off the tee. It’s important to hit the fairways, and to hole some putts. The fairways were rolling very nicely. It’s dried out really well.

 

I hit some good hybrids today. I hit three or four, and they were all good.

 

Judging the distance as it gets hotter is just luck, I guess (laughs). The distance is about 10 percent different here for me, and it varies a little from wedges, to long irons, to driver. It’s a little bit of a guess sometimes, but I’ve guessed well so far.

 

I’m really looking forward to the challenge of the weekend. It’s the first tournament of my season, so there’s not much expectation, but it’s fun to find yourself in the mix.

 

It means a lot to be playing for a spot in The Open. It’s a good incentive.

 

Erik van Rooyen (Rsa) – Second Round 67 (-5), Total 131 (-12)

 

It was a great start to get four birdies in a row. The weather was perfect this morning. It doesn’t matter when you make them, as long as you make them. It was fun to get off to a hot start. And you don’t want to rein yourself in when you get that kind of run going. You try and keep the pedal down. I still played fine. I had a couple of close shaves on the greens here and there. It’s not as if I all of a sudden played poorly. I still played some good golf and I made a couple of nice putts on the back nine as well.