Shiv Kapur triumphs

Shiv Kapur playing his only second tournament as a professional on the Amby Valley PGAI Tour captured the Rs 10-lakh Amby Valley-MGC Open title in style.

The 22-year-old rookie, fired the final salvo with a card of four-under 66 which earned him a single stroke victory over four-time champion Mukesh Kumar at the Madras Gymhana Club Golf annexe in Chennai on Friday.

The Asian Games gold medalist had a tournament of 16-under 264.

The Delhi-based Kapur took home the winner's cheque of Rs 1,62,000 while Mhow's Mukesh Kumar had to be content with the runner-up prize of Rs 1,12,000. Amritinder Singh of Chandigarh finished third with a total of 270 while Digvijay Singh (Meerut) was fourth with an aggregate of 271.

Ashok Kumar (Delhi) and Sanjay Kumar (Lucknow) were tied for the fifth place with 272 while Vijay Kumar finished seventh one stroke behind.

In a classic battle between youth and experience, Shiv Kapur and Mukesh Kumar began the day tied for lead. It was the youngster who called the first shots when he birdied the opening hole with a 20-footer. However, it was nullified with a bogey on the fifth where he three-putted from a short distance. That was the only mistake of the day as he never looked back firing birdies on the seventh and eighth to lead by two strokes after the first nine.

Meanwhile, Mukesh Kumar struggled with his putting as he missed three chances of sure birdies. Once he was in the lead, Shiv Kapur, who plans to play on the Asian Tour next, made two more birdies on the 10th and 14th. The experienced pro from Mhow found his wonted form on the back nine but it was trifle late. Mukesh played so consistently that he just had a solitary bogey in 72 holes. After birdies on the 12th and 16th, the defending champion made a consolation birdie on the finishing hole to finish second.

"The victory has not sunk in as yet. Winning my first tournament is a special occasion. This victory is close to my heart," said a jubilant Shiv Kapur. "This victory has given me the confidence to venture out. Playing against the best in the country, I had to make a special effort to win," admitted the champion.

"I am happy for Shiv. He played a brilliant game and deserved to win," said Mukesh Kumar. "My putts didn't fall but I am happy to have played consistent golf," he added.

Amritinder Singh did not have the best of starts as he bogeyed the second and fifth but made amends scoring successive birdies on the seventh and eighth. One more bogey on the last hole let go of his hopes even further.

Darshan wins: V Darshan put up a brilliant show of 13-over par 293 to win the amateur title. D Nagaraj, who is incidentally the golf secretary of the Madras Gymkhana Club, finished runner-up with a tally of 24-over par 304.

Top scores (after 72 holes):

Pros: 264_Shiv Kapur (Del) (64,66,68,66); 265_Mukesh Kumar (Mhow) (63,67,68,67); 270_Amritinder Singh (Chd) (65,63,71,71); 271_Digvijay Singh (Meerut) (67,64,69,71); 272_ Ashok Kumar (Del) (70,68,68,66), Sanjay Kumar (Lucknow) (68,67,68,69); 273_Vijay Kumar (Lucknow) (69,66,68,70); 274_RA Anura Rohana (Sri Lanka) (69,70,69,66); Amit Dube (Noida) (67,69,71,67); Yusuf Ali (Kolkata) (68,68,69,69); 275_Naman Dawar (Del) (66,71,71,67), S Madaiah (B'lore) (66,69,72,68); 276_Randhir Singh Ghotra (Chd) (68,74,69,65); 277_Ranjti Singh (Chd) (75,67,69,66); C Muniyappa (B'lore) (65,69,74,69).

Amateurs: 293_Darshan V (Chen) (73,72,74,74); 304_D Nagaraj (77,71,81,75).