Golf: Shubhankar Sharma slips in third round at Nexo Championship

Aberdeen (UK), Aug 23 (IANS) Shubhankar Sharma slipped down the leaderboard in the third round of the Nexo Championship after carding a three-over 75 at Trump International Golf Links, leaving him tied 41st heading into the final round.

Sharma, who had ended a run of four consecutive missed cuts by making the weekend in Scotland, endured a disappointing outing on Saturday. He managed just two birdies against five bogeys to drop down the standings after beginning the day in contention for a higher finish.

Earlier, the other Indian in the field, Yuvraj Sandhu, had missed the cut.

At the top, South Africa’s Shaun Norris moved into a commanding position to claim his third DP World Tour title after equalling the course record with a nine-under 66.

Norris, who began the third round one shot behind playing partner Matthew Southgate, produced a brilliant display to reach nine-under for the tournament and take a two-shot lead into Sunday.

The 44-year-old got off to a fast start with a birdie before producing the highlight of his round at the par-five fourth, holing out with his second shot for an albatross — the fifth of his career.

Norris added further birdies at the seventh and 14th before dropping a shot at the par-four 15th. He recovered immediately, however, with a birdie on the 17th before making par at the last to close with a 66.

The South African, whose most recent victory came at the 2024 Alfred Dunhill Championship, moved to nine-under for the week and two shots clear of the field.

England’s Matthew Jordan emerged as his closest challenger after a five-under 68. Jordan recovered from an opening bogey by picking up five shots during his round, including two birdies on the closing holes, to reach seven-under.

The 30-year-old is seeking his maiden DP World Tour title after finishing runner-up at last week’s Danish Golf Championship.

Scotland’s Scott Jamieson remained firmly in the hunt after a three-under 69. The home favourite made four birdies against one bogey to move to six-under, three shots behind Norris.

Jamieson will be chasing his second DP World Tour victory and first since 2012.

Southgate and Japan’s Keita Nakajima share fourth place at five-under, four shots behind the leader. Australia’s Connor McKinney, England’s Andy Sullivan and Zimbabwe’s Benjamin Follett-Smith are next at three-under.

–IANS

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