From left – Tommy Fleetwood (Getty Images), Robert Rock (Getty Images-European Tour), Shubhankar rSharma (file picture)
Oct 4: Shubhankar Sharma was going along fine till midway through the back nine as he was even par through 12 holes with three birdies and three bogeys, but then the weather changed dramatically at the ASI Scottish Open in North Berwick, Scotland. Over the next four holes, dropped five shots with a double bogey on 13t and bogeys on the next three holes before closing with pars on last two. From even par through 12, he fell to 5-over 76 and from being inside Top-10 at one point, he ended at T-47 at the wet Renaissance Club..
Even as Sharma dropped, Malaysian star Gavin Green made the most of an early tee time. Starting the day at even par after rounds of 70-71 on first two days, Green, former Asian Tour No, 1, had an eagle for the second day running. He eagled the Par-5 10th, after an eagle on Par-5 16th on second day. He also had three other birdies. Apart from a bogey on first, he did not drop any more shots.
Among other Asian Tour members in the field, Kalle Samooja (65-70-74) was T-10, Wang Jeunghun (73-68-70) was T-31, Li Haotong (68-70-74) and Lee Min Woo (66-74-72) were T-39, Masahiro Kawamura (69-69-77) was T-58, while Wu Ashun (70-70-77) was T-63, and Scott Hend (71-70-77) was T-65th.
Sharma said, ““These were the most challenging conditions I have played in. At time the rain was sideways and it was difficult to grip the clubs.”
He added, “I have one more round and the weather is still going to be tough, so a decent round could help me move up considerably.”
On the rain and how he felt later, he added, “We were soaked to the skin and had to quickly take off all as soon as we got to the hotel. It was quite an experience”
Robert Rock produced a solid 1-overr 72 in tough conditions to take a two shot lead into the final round. It was Scottish weather at its challenging best and the leading players were moving backwards instead of forwards as dropped shots became common. Rock is nine-under and two clear of 2-time Rolex series winner Tommy Fleetwood (69), Ian Poulter (73), Marcus Kinhult (71) and Wade Ormsby (69), a former winner on Asian Tour.
Gavin Green, who finished early, had a 67, the day’s best card which was equalled by Victor Dubuisson and Adri Arnaus.
Fleetwood, 29, moved up the leaderboard and will tee it up in final group tomorrow alongside leader Rock and Ormsby.
Fleetwood is joined at seven under par alongside Ryder Cup teammate Ian Poulter, who battled to a 73, Swede Marcus Kinhult (71) and Ormsby (70).
Home favourite Robert MacIntyre carded a 68 to sit in a group of 12 players at four under including fellow Scotsmen Grant Forrest and Marc Warren, and Rolex Series champions Brandon Stone and Lee Westwood.
Rock is now coach to some of the European Tour’s biggest stars and his two wins one at the 2012 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, where he held off Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods.
He achieved a top five in July at the Betfred British Masters and has been trending in the right direction, with only a disappointing third round stopping him from contending at last week’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.
Overnight leader Lucas Herbert shot 8-over 79 and dropped from -11 to -3 and is now T-22.
Home favourite Robert Macintyre carded 68 to sit in a group of 12 players at four under including Lee Westwood and Brandon Stone.
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