Former Joburg champion Shubhankar Sharma misses first cut in eight starts

Johannesburg: Indian golfer Shubhankar Sharma missed his first 36-hole cut in eight starts as he exited early at the Joburg Open, a tournament he won when it was last played in November 2017. Following Sharma’s triumph in 2017, the event did not take place in 2018 and 2019. After a first round 76, which included a quadruple bogey on Par-5 12th, he struggled in the second to 8-over 79, including two doubles, seven bogeys and three birdies. Sharma had exited after 54 holes in the previous tournament, the Aphrodite Hills Showdown, an event that was strokeplay for 36 holes and then knock-out for last two rounds. Sharma missed only the Sunday action limited to Top-16 but finished T-20. Prior to that Sharma made six straight cuts with a best finish of T-14 at the Aphrodite Hills Open in Cyprus. Jacques Blaauw of South Africa, with a round of 66-63 at 13-under led by one over fellow South African Wilco Nienaber (63-67) who was 12-under. Aaron Cockerill of England was third with 64-68 at 10-under. First round leader Matt Wallace shot 71 and slipped to T-11 at 7-under. The home favourites had been locked together at 12 under par when play was suspended for one hour and 50 minutes due to a dangerous weather situation on Friday afternoon, with talented 20-year-old Nienaber on the 15th green and Blaauw two holes further down the course. Blaauw was able to hole his 20 foot birdie putt on the 17th green when play resumed, before safely parring the last to sign for a sensational 63 and head into the weekend on 13 under at Randpark Golf Club. Nienaber bogeyed 16th to slip two behind Blaauw but birdied 17th and parred the 18th to finish the day in second place on 12 under.