Sharma finishes with 69 as Spaniard Larrazabal wins title in Korea

Pablo Larrazabal of Spain kisses the trophy after winning the Korea Championship Presented by Genesis at Jack Nicklaus GC Korea on April 30, 2023 in South Korea. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

Incheon, South Korea, April 30: Shubhankar Sharma rounded off the Korea Championships with his best round of 3-under 69, but must still have been disappointing for the young Indian. Sharma finished with even par 288 and in tied 52nd place even as Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal played a brilliant back nine to win his eighth title on the DP World Tour.

Sharma’s final round included five birdies against two bogeys, but a double bogey on each of the first three days and a 78 in tough conditions on the third day meant he finished way down.

As the DP World Tour season shifts to Europe from next week, Sharma and his compatriot Manu Gandas, who missed the cut, will get to Rome for the DS Automobile Italian Championships at Marco Simone Golf Club, which later in the year will host the 2023 Ryder Cup.

Larrazábal won the title by two shots after producing a back-nine birdie blitz to see off a high-quality chasing pack.

A tight battle unfolded at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea on Sunday afternoon, with Larrazábal finding himself in a five-way share of the lead on nine under when he reached the turn following two front-nine birdies.

The Spaniard slipped from the summit after dropping his first shot of the round at the tenth but roared back, making four birdies in the next five holes to open up a three-shot lead.

He then safely parred his way home to complete a closing 67, to finish the tournament on 12 under par and claim an eighth DP World Tour title just a couple of weeks before his 40th birthday.

Dane Marcus Helligkilde signed for a fourth-round 68 to finish in solo second on ten under, one clear of home favourite Park Sanghyun, Spain’s Jorge Campillo, Dutchman Joost Luiten and Scotland’s Scott Jamieson.

Larrazábal said, “It’s amazing. In two weeks I’m turning 40. I’m not a long hitter. To play against all these 20 year old guys now that hit the ball 40 yards over me, and to beat them is unbelievable.

“To do it here in Korea, where we have not come for ten years and where I love to play. Now it’s one of my favourite places in the world.”

He added, “When I saw the weather on Friday afternoon with the wind coming in, I thought I would have a chance. I’m not the biggest hitter but I love wind conditions. I love to keep it low, to play with trajectories. But my favourite moment was to kiss this beautiful trophy.”

Sharma drops on a wet and windy day in Korea

Sharma drops double bogey on closing hole for 2nd day in a row, lies 24th in Korea  

Sharma slips with double bogey on last hole in the first round in Korea

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