NEW DELHI: India’s young golfing sensation Shubhankar Sharma on Friday fired a course record of eight-under 64 to stay within touching distance of clubhouse leader Emiliano Grillo on the second day of the Indian Open.
Argentina’s Grillo, who scored four-under 68 after his course-record equalling 65 in the opening round at the DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurgaon, remains top of the leaderboard.
21-year-old Sharma said he was pleased with his performance on Friday, which leaves him four shots off the lead in sole second place at seven-under for the tournament.
“This is a tough course and it is not easy to go low here. I am very happy with the way I played,” he said in a statement.
“Today’s round will definitely rank up there as one of my most significant achievements, especially when it is played at this course,” Sharma added.
Home favorite Sharma had an ordinary start on Thursday after shooting one-over at the Gurgaon course, considered among the toughest on the Asian and European tour.
“If you told me I would be seven-under-par going into the weekend after being five-over-par on my opening nine holes yesterday, I would just have laughed,” he said.
Sharma has shot up the world golf rankings after a stellar few months, with wins at the European Tour’s Joburg Open in December and Maybank Championship this February, and a strong showing at the WGC-Mexico Championships last weekend.
Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal scored a one-under 71 and was tied for third spot with English golfer Andrew Johnston, who hit six-under 66 for a total of 138.
Nine of the total 144 golfers were not able to finish their second round on Friday because of fading light.
Home favorite Shubhankar Sharma breaks course record at Indian Open
Home favorite Shubhankar Sharma breaks course record at Indian Open
Dubai Basketball introduce 17-year-old Tomislav Vuckovic as they stay perfect in ABA League
- Winning streak now at 12-0 after the team’s 90-79 victory over Borac Mozzart at Coca-Cola Arena
DUBAI: Dubai Basketball extended their winning streak to 12-0 in the ABA League with a 90-79 victory over Borac Mozzart at Coca-Cola Arena on Monday.
The game also marked a historic moment for the club and basketball development in the UAE. Tomislav Vuckovic, 17, became the first Dubai Basketball Academy player to start for the senior team in official competition.
His inclusion represents a significant milestone in the club’s long-term vision to help young players become professionals, according to a statement from the team.
The opening quarter did not unfold in line with Dubai’s usual standards. Borac Mozzart began with confidence and tempo, capitalizing on early lapses to take a 23-19 lead after the first 10 minutes.
As the former NBA duo McKinley Wright and Dwayne Bacon orchestrated the offence, Dubai gradually took control and went into halftime with a 41-37 advantage.
Dubai’s depth played a key role as the game progressed. Contributions from newcomer Kenan Kamenjas, and Dubai veterans Nemanja Dangubic and Klemen Prepelic, helped sustain the advantage.
Borac’s efforts were largely driven by Marko Josilo and Diante Baldwin. Without consistent support, the visitors were unable to mount a comeback.
Reflecting on the performance, Dubai Basketball Head Coach Jurica Golemac said: “It was not an easy game, especially after such a tight schedule.
“We did not start well, but we found our rhythm in the second half and made the game easier. Everyone shared minutes, nobody got injured, and that is the most important thing for us.”
Dubai managed the final quarter with composure, closing out the contest without allowing the margin to come under threat. Bacon led the scoring with 15 points, while Kamenjas added 13 and seven rebounds.
The team now head into round 22 of the EuroLeague against Virtus Bologna, standing 12th in the league, one position above Dubai.
