Shiv Triumphs

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Kapur wins duel at The Royal Cup

Shiv Kapur of India emerged triumphant at the US$500,000 Royal Cup after he closed the tournament with a four-under-par 67 to finish 14-under-par 270.

Sunday was billed as a duel between Kapur and Thailand’s Prom Meesawat as the pair emerged from the pack after round three. At the start of the final round, Prom was two shots ahead of Kapur, who was four shots ahead of the rest of the field.

However, Prom lost his advantage early at the second hole of the Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club. After pulling to the left, Prom had to settle for a bogey at the par-three hole, while Kapur knocked in a birdie.

Prom’s further bogeys on the fifth and ninth handed Kapur the lead. Although, the 33-year-old Thai managed to shake off his nerves after the turn and it was all square again following consecutive birdies on the 11th and 12th.

Kapur did himself no favours when he bogeyed the 13th and 14th and in the process, handed Prom a two-shot lead again.

Kapur bounced back remarkably with two consecutive birdies of his own and it was back to a deadlock. With Prom bogeying the 17th, the door was left open for Shiv to win the Royal Cup, and he did.

“It was a see-saw battle indeed. I had to come out fighting straight out of the blocks. I made two birdies in my first three holes and that reversed Prom’s advantage. It doesn’t always go to plan, but luckily, I started well and he made a bogey on the second hole and before I knew it, I was leading the tournament,” said Kapur.

Although, Prom nearly forced a playoff as he narrowly missed a birdie putt at the last hole of the tournament. He finished round four with a 70.

Gaganjeet Bhullar of India carded a 66 to cement third place after a late charge. Thai legend Prayad Marksaeng and Chinese Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang, who won on the same golf course last year, shared fourth place.

Final Scores

• 270 - Shiv KAPUR (IND) 67-68-68-67.
• 271 - Prom MEESAWAT (THA) 68-67-66-70.
• 273 - Gaganjeet BHULLAR (IND) 67-71-69-66.
• 275 - Prayad MARKSAENG (THA) 72-67-71-65, CHAN Shih-chang (TPE) 68-75-67-65.
• 276 - Khalin JOSHI (IND) 70-68-71-67.
• 277 - Poom SAKSANSIN (THA) 68-71-68-70.
• 278 - Rattanon WANNASRICHAN (THA) 75-67-69-67, Danthai BOONMA (THA) 73-69-68-68, Antonio LASCUNA (PHI) 69-70-69-70.
• 279 - Thammanoon SRIROJ (THA) 73-71-68-67, Raththee SIRITHANAKUNSAK (THA) 67-71-70-71, Namchok TANTIPOKHAKUL (THA) 68-70-70-71.
• 280 - Poosit SUPUPRAMAI (THA) 69-72-69-70, Ben LEONG (MAS) 70-68-71-71.
• 281 - Peradol PANYATHANASEDH (THA) 69-75-70-67, Donlaphatchai NIYOMCHON (THA) 71-71-69-70, LU Wei-chih (TPE) 68-69-71-73.
• 282 - Phachara KHONGWATMAI (THA) 70-71-72-69, Nattawat SUVAJANAKORN (THA) 70-71-71-70, Thanpisit OMSIN (THA) 70-69-72-71.
• 283 - Suradit YONGCHAROENCHAI (THA) 69-75-71-68, Chanachok DEJPIRATANAMONGKOL (THA) 72-73-69-69, Panuphol PITTAYARAT (THA) 67-73-72-71, Chapchai NIRAT (THA) 70-70-72-71, Atthaphon SRIBOONKAEW (THA) 73-70-69-71, John CATLIN (USA) 69-72-70-72, Tirawat KAEWSIRIBANDIT (THA) 70-71-70-72, Pasavee LERTVILAI (THA) 70-72-69-72.
• 284 - Thaworn WIRATCHANT (THA) 69-73-73-69, Wisut ARTJANAWAT (THA) 69-72-75-68, Terry PILKADARIS (AUS) 71-68-77-68, Jakraphan PREMSIRIGORN (THA) 72-72-70-70.
• 285 - Chinnarat PHADUNGSIL (THA) 72-71-72-70, WANG Wei-lun (TPE) 76-69-69-71, Tawan PHONGPHUN (THA) 72-74-69-70, Suttijet KOORATANAPISAN (THA) 71-70-72-72.
• 286 - Piya SWANGARUNPORN (THA) 73-72-70-71, Pavit TANGKAMOLPRASERT (THA) 70-78-68-70, Thepbodin AMARANAN (THA) 73-75-71-67.
• 287 - Jyoti RANDHAWA (IND) 70-73-72-72, Chaiphat KOONMARK (THA) 71-71-72-73, Jazz JANEWATTANANOND (THA) 67-74-72-74, Chirat JIRASUWAN (THA) 70-75-73-69, Itthipat BURANATANYARAT (THA) 74-76-68-69, Worrasorn SUWANPANANG (THA) 73-73-74-67, Ratchapol JANTAVARA (THA) 72-69-70-76.
• 289 - Pawin INGKHAPRADIT (THA) 73-72-69-75, Arnond VONGVANIJ (THA) 73-72-72-72, Natipong SRITHONG (THA) 69-75-74-71, Giwhan KIM (KOR) 75-70-73-71.
• 290 - Panuwat MUENLEK (THA) 73-70-71-76, Nitithorn THIPPONG (THA) 73-67-79-71.
• 291 - Settee PRAKONGVECH (THA) 73-73-71-74, Danny CHIA (MAS) 72-71-70-78.
• 292 - Boonchu RUANGKIT (THA) 73-72-73-74.
• 293 - Somprad RATTANASUWAN (THA) 71-71-75-76, Chonlatit CHUENBOONNGAM (THA) 75-75-71-72, Meechok PHANTHARAK (THA) 74-70-78-71.
• 294 - Pijit PETCHKASEM (THA) 70-73-77-74, Chawalit PLAPHOL (THA) 73-73-81-67.
• 295 - Pannakorn UTHAIPAS (THA) 72-70-74-79, Somsak KAOPRATUM (THA) 70-78-74-73, Scott HEND (AUS) 71-77-74-73, Kwanchai TANNIN (THA) 71-79-73-72, Naras LUANGPHETCHARAPORN (THA) 77-70-78-70.
• 296 - Tawit POLTHAI (THA) 75-74-71-76.
• 297 - Kasidit LEPKURTE (THA) 75-77-72-73.
• 298 - Udorn DUANGDECHA (THA) 79-72-76-71.
• 300 - Ronnachai JAMNONG (THA) 78-76-70-76.
• 301 - Nattapong PUTTA (THA) 74-76-75-76.
• 306 - Natthapong NIYOMCHON (THA) 77-76-72-81.
• 307 - Jaturon DUANGPHAICHOOM (THA) 75-86-71-75.
• 332 - Jomyoot GEETONG (THA) 86-83-84-79.
• 335 - Pattalit THANOMSING (THA) 80-89-88-78.

END.
Sorachut HANSAPIBAN, Thailand - RT
Nicholas FUNG, Malaysia - RT
Jbe KRUGER, South Africa - DQ