Sharma rides two eagles as Jarvis and Gerard set La Réserve showdown in Mauritius

Shubhankar Sharma battled wind, rain and a brutally demanding La Réserve Golf Links layout to sit one-under after three rounds at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, closing Saturday with a roller‑coaster 71 built on two eagles, four birdies, five pars and seven bogeys. His 74-69-71 card leaves him tied 41st, still chasing a strong finish in his first appearance at the course and his final start of the year.

Sharma followed a gritty second‑round 69, which pulled him inside the cut line, by taking full advantage of the par‑5s on day three. After dropping three bogeys on the long holes in round one, he has steadily adjusted, adding two birdies and a bogey in round two and then producing driver–6‑iron combinations to set up eagle putts of 15 feet at the fifth and 20 feet at the 12th in round three, plus a near‑missed eagle chance from 15 feet on the 15th. He called La Réserve “an incredible course” that becomes a “bigger challenge” when the wind and passing showers arrive, but said that is part of the appeal of golf on the island as he continues to settle into life back on the DP World Tour after regaining his card at Qualifying School.

Up front, the leaderboard tightened and stretched all afternoon. South Africa’s Casey Jarvis, who has held at least a share of the lead every day, and American Ryan Gerard share top spot at 16-under after 54 holes. Gerard, the highest‑ranked player in the field and winner of this year’s Barracuda Championship on the PGA Tour, posted a birdie at the 18th to set the target before Jarvis, playing in the group behind, unleashed a 350‑plus‑yard drive on the 617‑yard closing par‑5, saw his second shot carom off a camera to stay in play and then salvaged par with a 10‑footer to keep his share of the lead.

France’s Alexander Levy birdied the last to reach 15-under and remain within one, hunting a first win since 2018 and a route back to full DP World Tour status after narrowly missing out at Q‑School. Just behind, Spain’s Manuel Elvira slipped to 12-under with two back‑nine bogeys in a 69, four off the pace as he bids to join brother Nacho as a DP World Tour winner, while defending champion John Parry surged into the chasing pack at 11-under with a sparkling 67 built on seven birdies after an early double stumble. Marcel Schneider and Andreas Halvorsen, both at 10-under after low rounds of their own, will need something special on Sunday on a course where four shots separate the top five but the combination of sun, squalls and constant cross‑winds means no lead feels safe.

Story – V Krishnaswamy in Mauritius

Photo – Sunshine Tour