SportsPosted at: Oct 10 2026 8:42PM


Shubhankar Sharma crushes field by six shots

Greater Noida, Oct 10 (UNI) Shubhankar Sharma stamped his authority on the domestic golf circuit with a six-shot triumph at the Vishwa Samudra presents Kapil Dev Invitational Tour Championship powered by NALCO, producing a timely statement of intent ahead of next week's US$4 million DP World India Championship.
The 30-year-old Chandigarh golfer carded a final-round three-under 69 to finish at 14-under 274 at the Jaypee Greens Golf and Spa Resort here on Saturday, converting his overnight advantage into a commanding victory and collecting INR 30 lakh.
The win was Sharma's second in as many appearances on the DP World Professional Golf Tour of India (DP World PGTI) this season, underlining his resurgence after ending an eight-year wait for a professional title at the Boulders Classic in April.
Sharma's triumph was built on composure under pressure. Starting the final round with a two-shot cushion, he made early birdies but allowed Italy's Michele Ortolani to close the gap after dropping shots midway through the round. A bogey on the 10th briefly threatened to tighten the contest further.
The response was emphatic. Sharma holed a spectacular putt from around 60 to 70 feet for an eagle on the par-five 12th, a decisive moment that swung the momentum back in his favour. He then relied on his putting and short game to negotiate the demanding closing stretch, including a crucial par save on the 16th after his tee shot finished behind a tree.
“The eagle was a pleasant surprise and came at exactly the right moment,” Sharma said, recalling how the long putt lifted him after his lead had been reduced.
He acknowledged that the course and gusting winds made the finish far from straightforward despite the eventual six-shot margin.
“The course really showed its teeth, particularly with the flag positions. I had to scramble and make several up-and-downs over the closing holes, so I'm delighted to have finished the job,” he said.
The victory also gives Sharma valuable momentum before the DP World India Championship, where he will lead the Indian challenge against a star-studded international field. Defending champion Tommy Fleetwood, two-time Masters champion Rory McIlroy, reigning Open champion Ryan Fox, and former Masters winners Patrick Reed and Bubba Watson are among the prominent names set to compete.
Sharma said the event would offer an opportunity to welcome familiar faces from the DP World Tour and showcase India's golfing heritage.
The domestic championship also had significant implications for the season-long race to qualify for the showpiece event. Bengaluru's Manoj S finished joint runner-up at eight-under 280 alongside Ortolani, earning INR 16 lakh and climbing from 26th to 17th in the standings to secure his qualification.
Bengaluru's Khalin Joshi finished fourth at seven-under 281, strengthening his grip on second place in the rankings with season earnings of INR 77.33 lakh.
Saptak Talwar retained the top position in the Race to DP World India Championship after carding a two-under 70, his only under-par round of the week. He finished tied 16th at one-over 289 and held season earnings of INR 99.69 lakh.
Viraj Madappa, ranked 24th in the standings with earnings of INR 24.90 lakh, claimed the final qualifying spot through the current DP World PGTI Order of Merit.
Gurugram's Harman Sachdeva and Chandigarh's Yuvraj Sandhu shared fifth place at six-under 282.
For Sharma, however, the biggest takeaway was not merely the six-shot winning margin but the authority with which he recovered from a mid-round wobble to close out the title. With the country's leading professionals now preparing to take on some of the world's biggest names, his victory has put him firmly in the spotlight ahead of the next week's marquee contest.
UNI BDN
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