Shubhankar cards 2-over 72, Bhullar 5-over at Irish Open

Ballymena (Northern Ireland), September 24

Indian golfer Shubhankar Sharma dropped four bogeys in seven holes on the back nine and to end with a modest 2-over 72 in the Irish Open here on Thursday.

Sharma, who has been going through a rough patch, had birdies on the 2nd, 4th and 7th and 18th at the Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort.

In between, he dropped as many as six bogeys, on the 3rd and 4th and 10th, 11th, 13th and 16th.

With more than half the field yet to finish, Sharma was lying tied-51st and his position was bound to improve as scoring became tougher in the afternoon.

The other Indian in the field, Gaganjeet Bhullar, playing his first event in more than six months, finished 5-over and that included double bogeys on the 1st and the 18th.

In between, he also bogeyed the 5th and 6th and saved a shot on the 9th for his only birdie of the day.

Dean Burmester flew to the top of the leaderboard, following a 5-under 65 to set a daunting clubhouse target in the first round. Also shooting 5-under 65 was Jordan Smith.

Stephen Gallacher, winner of Hero Indian Open in 2019, was 5-under through the front nine holes.

South African Burmester dominated Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort, which is hosting its maiden European Tour event, as he rolled in seven birdies and a double bogey.

Toby Tree shot a 4-under 66 and was fourth. Swede Rikard Karlberg, amateur James Sugrue and Oscar Lengden carded 3-under 67 each and were tied for 5th. PTI