Hua Hin, Thailand, 16-01-2016
Chikkarangappa & Shubhankar Sharma earn Asian Tour cards for 2016
Finish tied 11th and tied 25th respectively at Final Stage
The Indian duo of Chikkarangappa S and Shubhankar Sharma earned their Asian Tour cards for 2016 after they finished tied 11th and tied 25th respectively at the Asian Tour Q School Final Stage. The top 41 players in the field secured their cards on the Asian Tour.
Chikkarangappa (67-64-72-73), the 2015 Rolex Ranking champion, was the joint leader after round three, but he ended the week in tied 11th after his final round of two-over-73 that took his total to eight-under-276. Chikka thus finished five strokes behind the winner Yikeun Chang of Korea.
The 22-year-old Chikka, who was 73rd in the 2015 Asian Tour Order of Merit, has now fought his way back onto the Asian Tour.
Nineteen-year-old Shubhankar Sharma (68-69-71-72), a winner on the PGTI, secured his maiden Asian Tour card after firing a final round of one-over-72 that placed him tied 25th at four-under-280.
The cut for the Asian Tour qualification was the top-40 and ties but 41 players eventually made it as seven players were tied for 35th at three-under-281.
Among the other Indians in the fray, Honey Baisoya posted a brilliant 67 in the final round but fell short of the qualifying mark of three-under-281 by just two shots. He finished tied 49th.
Manu Gandas shot 69, but he too occupied tied 49th at one-under-283 and as a result missed out on his card.
Rahul Bajaj (71) finished a further shot behind Baisoya and Gandas in tied 59th while Amardip Sinh Malik (79) finished 108th at 12-over-296.
About PGTI:
Formed in 2006, Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) is the recognised official body of professional golf in India. PGTI's objective is to promote professional golf in the country, as well as to give players an opportunity to be involved in the decision making on all aspects of the game. Headed by Mr. Kapil Dev (President), PGTI's governing body comprises leading Indian golf professionals. PGTI currently has over 300 members.
For information on PGTI, please contact:
Nikhil Kalaan
Media Manager - PGTI
Mobile: 9910974846
Email: media@pgtofindia.com
