Overnight leader Shubhankar Sharma shot an impressive eight-under 64, increasing his lead to seven shots at 20-under 196 after the third round of the inaugural Boulders Classic held at the Boulder Hills Golf & Country Club in Hyderabad. The 29-year-old Sharma, a two-time DP World Tour winner, equaled the course record set by Honey Baisoya the previous day. His round included nine birdies and just one bogey, solidifying his position going into the final day.
Delhi’s Rashid Khan, Chandigarh’s Angad Cheema, and first-round leader Vishesh Sharma from Hyderabad were tied for second place at 13-under 203, trailing the leader by seven shots. Rashid and Cheema both carded matching six-under 66s, while Vishesh posted a four-under 68.
Shubhankar Sharma, a six-time winner on the DP World PGTI, is participating in his first tour event since December 2021. His last victory on the tour was at the McLeod Russel Tour Championship in Kolkata in December 2017. Sharma expressed satisfaction with his performance, stating that he played exceptionally well and maintained a positive mindset throughout the tournament.
“I played really solid today — probably hit it the best I have all week,” Sharma said. “Everything was clicking, and even when I lost a bit of momentum, I bounced back quickly with birdies.” He emphasized the importance of precision in his game, particularly in gauging distances and wind conditions.
Shubhankar attributed his consistent play to his positive mental attitude, stating, “I’ve just been in a happy state of mind and that’s showing on the course.” He highlighted the significance of sticking to his routine and minimizing errors. Looking forward to the final round, Sharma emphasized the need to remain aggressive while enjoying the process that has brought him success so far.
Chandigarh’s Ajeetesh Sandhu, a former Asian Tour champion and five-time DP World PGTI winner, secured fifth place with a total score of 12-under 204 after carding his third consecutive four-under 68. DP World PGTI Rankings leader Saptak Talwar and Honey Baisoya were tied for sixth place at 11-under 205.
Mohd Azhar, another professional from Hyderabad, held tied eighth place at 10-under 206 after consistent performances. Yuvraj Sandhu, a top contender before the tournament, found himself tied-32nd at two-under 214. With a substantial seven-shot lead, Shubhankar Sharma aims to maintain his dominance in the final round as he pursues his seventh DP World PGTI title and first since 2017.
