DP World Tour : Horizon Irish Open Leaderboard
Shubhankar Sharma produced a brilliant burst of scoring around the turn as he fired a flawless 65 to lead the 2023 Horizon Irish Open by one shot after Thursday's first round.
The 27-year-old carded an eagle and five birdies as well as pulling off a series of impressive par saves in pleasant afternoon conditions at The K Club.
Sharma's seven-under-par total saw him sit one stroke ahead of Thomas Bjørn, Marcel Schneider, Kristian Krogh Johannessen, Jordan Smith and Ross Fisher.
Hurly Long, Julien Brun, Mikael Lindberg, Wu Ashun, Joost Luiten and Zander Lombard were another shot back on five under, one ahead of home favourites Shane Lowry and Mark Power, who is making his professional debut this week.
"I made a lot of putts on the back nine, which was my front nine, and the round kind of got even better when I made that third shot at the 18th. I holed out from 105 yards. That got me to five under, and the front nine was solid again, which was my back nine."
Sharma was pleased with his putting, adding: "I haven't seen the stats but I'm sure I gained some strokes on the field with my putting.
"It was one of those days that the hole grew bigger and bigger. Really pleased, yes. I was great off the tee but putter would be number one."
Dane Bjørn, who won this event in 2006, made a magnificent return from a 10-week injury lay-off as he shot seven birdies before closing his 66 with a bogey on the ninth.
Englishmen Smith and Fisher also carded seven birdies and a single bogey in their first rounds, while afternoon starters Johannessen and Schneider finished with a flourish to join them on six under.
World Number Two Rory McIlroy kicked off his week with a 69 which featured five birdies to sit on three under alongside defending champion Adrian Meronk.
europeantour.com
Bryan Angus (edit)
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