Shubhankar Sharma qualifies for US Open
June 6, 2018
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.
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 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.”
He added, “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.
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.
Adam Scott parred his last four holes after bogeying 11th and 14th to find himself in a five-way tie for 10th place, which enabled him to squeeze in for his 67th successive Major appearance.
Scott has played every Major since the 2001 British Open. His streak is second only to Sergio Garcia’s sequence of 75 appearances.
Kapur, who has qualified in the past from Surrey, shot 74 in the first round and then withdrew. Andrew Johnston won the honours and the qualifiers also included Hero Indian Open winner, Matt Wallace, who finished ahead of Shubhankar at the Indian event. Padraig Harrington and Lee Westwood failed to qualify from this venue.
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.
Of the 12 Sectional qualifiers, 11 were held on Monday. The qualifier in Japan was held last month with three players going through while 14 went in from Walton Heath. The 11 qualifiers in the US had about 50 spots available.
