Indian golfer Shubhankar Sharma delivered his finest performance of 2025, carding an impressive six-under 66, positioning himself tied for fourth place on the rain-affected opening day of the Investec South African Open Championship in Durban.
Coming into the tournament after missing cuts in all four DP World Tour events this season, Sharma showed remarkable resilience and skill at the Durban Country Club. His stellar round featured five birdies, one eagle, and just a single bogey, marking a significant turnaround in his recent form.
Sharma, the only Indian golfer competing this week after compatriot Veer Ahlawat missed qualifying for the main draw, made a strong start from the tenth tee with an early birdie. He maintained his momentum, adding birdies at the 14th, 15th, and 17th holes. An impressive eagle on the third hole momentarily elevated him to six-under, though a minor setback came with a bogey on the fifth. Nevertheless, Sharma finished confidently, recording another birdie on his final hole, the ninth, sealing a commendable round of 66.
The tournament’s lead after day one was jointly held by England's Sam Bairstow and Sweden's Fredrik From, each scoring seven-under 65. Bairstow dazzled with eight birdies, including a spectacular 50-foot putt on the fifth hole, offsetting just one bogey. From, familiar with South African conditions from his experience on the Sunshine Tour, delivered an equally remarkable performance featuring two eagles, four birdies, and only one dropped shot.
South Africa’s Darren Fichardt surged up the leaderboard, birdying seven of his first 14 holes before play was halted due to fading daylight at 6:20 pm local time. Fichardt will resume play needing four more holes to complete his opening round.
Joining Sharma in fourth place at six-under were seasoned golfers Richie Ramsay, local favorite Jayden Schaper, China's Haotong Li, and Todd Clements, making for a highly competitive leaderboard heading into day two.
The tournament start was notably delayed by three hours following heavy overnight rain, causing waterlogged conditions across several areas of the course. Thanks to an extensive effort by the greenkeeping staff, play commenced at 9:20 am local time, ensuring the prestigious championship got underway smoothly despite the adverse conditions.
Sharma's excellent start provides an encouraging sign for the Indian golfer, who looks poised to end his recent struggles and push towards a strong finish in Durban.
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