Shubhankar Sharma putts on the seventh hole during Day One of The Open de Espana at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid on Thursday.
Indian golfer Shubhankar Sharma played one of his best rounds of the season to force his way into contention at the halfway stage of the Acciona Open de España.
Sharma followed up his first-round 67 with a seven-under 64 that sparkled even more with two eagles, one each on a Par-5 and a Par-4. The two-time European Tour winner is now 11-under and tied for third place. He is just two shots behind leader Wil Besseling and one behind World No. 1 Jon Rahm.
Sharma's best card this season has been eight-under 63 on the final day of the Cazoo Open supported by Gareth Bale in July.
In the second round this week, Sharma was in blistering form despite a bogey start. He birdied third, eagled the Par-5 third but dropped a shot again on fourth. Calming himself with pars on the remaining four holes on the front nine, he was one-under for first nine.
Then he exploded with birdies at 10th, 12th and 14th and 17th before holing his second shot for a second eagle in the round. That gave him a 64 and a shot at the Acciona Open de Espana. Sharma has been finding his feet slowly but steadily this season and has three Top-10s at Made in Himmerland, Cazoo Classic and BMW PGA and two other finishes in Top-16 in Italian Open and Hero Open.
"The game has been coming back and I am feeling way more confident than I did at the start of the season," said Sharma.
Leader Besseling was bogey free for 36 holes as he lead the way into the weekend. Rahm was just one shot back in the Spanish capital. The Dutchman followed an opening 64 with a 65 at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid to get to 13-under and he will face the biggest day of his career in the final group on day three.
Rahm carded a 67 as he looks for a third consecutive win at his home open and, with the weekend entirely sold out, the leading duo will take a bumper crowd round with them in the Spanish sun.
Another home favourite Adri Arnaus and England's Ross McGowan were at 11 under alongside Sharma. Yet another Spaniard Rafa Cabrera Bello, Frenchman Julien Guerrier and Scotland's Grant Forrest were at 10-under.
