Indian golfer Shubhankar Sharma fired 10 birdies for a remarkable 10-under-par 62 to clinch a stunning two-shot victory at the USD 3 million Maybank Championship on Sunday.
The 21-year-old talented Indian overcame a four-shot deficit with a dominant display to bag his second Asian Tour and European Tour title with a winning total of 21-under-par 267 in windy conditions at the Saujana Golf and Country Club.
In his fourth start since winning the Joburg Open in South Africa in December, Shubhankar produced a sensational final round where he made five birdies in each half, which included clutch birdie putts on 17 and 18.
He defeated co-overnight leader Jorge Campillo of Spain, who eagled the opening hole before returning with a 68 to settle for second place, while Pablo Larrazabal and Ryan Fox of New Zealand finished in third place after posting identical 66s.
The victory earned Shubhankar USD 500,000 and moved him to the top of the Asian Tour’s Habitat for Humanity Standings and on the Race to Dubai on the European Tour.
Another Indian in the fray, Khalin Joshi, who is Shubhankar’s roommate this week, finished in a share of fifth place alongside Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa, Hideto Tanihara, Nino Bertasio and world number 47 Dylan Frittelli of South Africa.
Shubhankar produced a great comeback after struggling in the opening two rounds where he was tied in 48th place at the halfway stage.
A third round 66 put him within four shots of the lead and he charged into contention on the final round when he got off to a hot front nine.
He marked his card with further birdies on 11, 13 and 14 which gave him a two-shot advantage on the 16th hole as he romped to victory in emphatic style to become the first Asian to win the third edition of the Maybank Championship.
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