For the first time ever, the Joburg Open will finish on a Monday in its history after a heavy thunderstorm played havoc and forced the suspension of Sunday’s final round at Randpark Golf Club.

 

India’s Shubhankar Sharma was 22-under through seven holes before a thunderstorm at 1pm forced officials to suspend play at the Randpark Golf Club.

 

 

                                                          Sharma is still bogey-free in his last 44 holes
 

An official announcement was made to stop play for the day at 5.30 pm with players returning on Monday at 7.30 am to finish the final round. 
 

Sharma, searching for a first Asian Tour victory, holds a four-shot advantage but a fast-charging Erik Van Rooyen has a close-range birdie putt on the ninth hole to narrow the gap.
 

The young Indian, who held an overnight five-shot lead, birdied holes two and six but local favourite Van Rooyen is hot on his heels after making four birdies in eight holes.
 

Tapio Pulkkanen of Finland and James Morrison of England were on 14-under through eighth and seven holes respectively at the R16.5 million (approximately US$1.2 million) event sanctioned by the Asian Tour, European Tour and Sunshine Tour.

 

India’s Shubhankar Sharma is leading by four strokes with 11 holes to play on the Firethorn course. South African Erik van Rooyen is his nearest challenger on 18 under par and with 10 holes of his final round remaining.

Sharma started the final round with a five-stroke lead and birdied the second hole to climb six strokes clear of the field.

 

 

 

                                                     Sharma said he will treat the final like any other day

 

But Van Rooyen made four birdies in five holes from the third to keep some sort of pressure on the leader.

 

With the next players on 14 under, it appears a contest between these two golfers to be crowned this year’s Joburg Open champion.

 

“I’m going to treat it like another day,” said Sharma, who has been remarkably composed beyond his 21 years and considering he is new to this experience, having never before led a major tournament going into the final round.

 

Did you know?
 

• The 2017 Joburg Open is the ninth Asian Tour event to record a Monday finish after the 2016 BANK BRI-JCB Indonesia Open, 2016 SMBC Singapore Open, 2013 CIMB Classic, 2011 Barclays Singapore Open, 2010 Barclays Singapore Open, 2008 HSBC Champions, 2006 Hero Honda Indian Open and 2005 BMW Asian Open.
• This is the first time the Joburg Open will finish on a Monday.
• Sharma is still bogey-free in his last 44 holes. He only dropped three bogeys in the opening round.
• He has never led heading into the final round on the Asian Tour but remained calmed and composed when he birdied holes two and six to maintain his lead.
• He is in the running to win his first Asian Tour title and become the first Asian to win the Joburg Open in his first appearance in South Africa. He can also claim one of the three tickets to The Open in 2018.
• Van Rooyen, who lives in Johannesburg, is the closest challenger to Sharma after he birdied holes three, four, five and seven. He is four shots back but has a tap-in birdie lined-up after his approach on the ninth hole hit the flag.
• The home favourite is playing in his rookie season on the European Tour. He has already won twice in 2017 at the Eye of Africa PGA Championship and Hainan Open on the Challenge Tour.

 

Day 3: India's Sharma continues his blistering form, takes 5-shot lead at Joburg Open