ROME, Italy: India’s Shubhankar Sharma overcame his up-and-down ride in the closing stages on the second day and birdied two of his final three holes to card two-under 69 at the Italian Open.
The 23-year-old, a two-time winner on the European Tour, is now seven-under and tied-third at the Olgiata Golf Club. He was tied-third after the first round as well.
Sharma had six birdies with two dropped shots and a double bogey for a 69.
SSP Chawrasia, who shot three-over 74 in the first round, was fighting back in the second round. He was four-under through 10 holes to lie one-under through 28 holes. The Indian was now inside the cut line which looked likely at Par.
Gaganjeet Bhullar, however, was likely to exit early as he was three-over through nine holes in second round after a first round 74 to get to a total of six-over.
Among those sharing the third place with Sharma was World No. 5, Justin Rose, who also carded 69.
Graeme McDowell (66), Rhory Sabbatini (70) and Andrew Johnston (68) were also at seven-under in tied-third.
It was a strong bunch with two US Open winners in Rose and McDowell.
Right at the top was Matthew Fitzpatrick (67-65), who fired a six-under 65 to edge one shot clear of Denmark’s Joachim B Hansen (67-66) at the halfway mark.
