Dubai, 19-12-2014
Shiv Kapur is joint halfway leader at Dubai Open
Arjun Atwal and Gaganjeet Bhullar in tied third
India’s Shiv Kapur soared on eagle’s wings as he fired a superb six-under-par 66 to share the halfway lead with Thai prospect Pavit Tangkamolprasert at the inaugural Asian Tour’s Dubai Open on Friday.
Kapur, who triumphed in Dubai on the European Challenge Tour at the end of last season, maintained his love-affair with the vibrant city, holing out for a stunning two from the fairway at the par four first hole before adding five more birdies against one bogey at the magnificent Els Club Dubai.
Newly crowned Asian Development Tour number one Pavit continued to show his potential with a battling 70 which tied Kapur on seven-under-par 137, one ahead of Indian duo Arjun Atwal (65) and Gaganjeet Bhullar (69), Scotsman Simon Yates (67)and Korean teenager Wang Jeung-hun (67) in what is the final tournament of the 2014 Asian Tour season.
Dubai resident Kapur got off to a flying start by holing out a six iron for his opening eagle before finishing strongly with birdies on 16 and 17 to enhance his chances of winning a second Asian Tour victory.
“Solid performance ... started off holing my second shot, so that's always a great way to start the day and I pretty much just eliminated the mistakes on my card. Made one bogey in two rounds, and I haven't made a ton of putts or a ton of birdies but when you keep the bogeys off the card, you're usually going to be there or thereabouts,” said Kapur, who was the Asian Tour Rookie of the Year in 2005.
“I love this place. The last time it was the season ending event (European Challenge Tour) and I won, so fingers crossed I can continue the mojo. I'm planning on winning but it's tough to say. There's a lot of golf left.”
Arjun Atwal, Asia’s number one in 2003, showed up as he produced a fine seven-birdie card to charge into contention. “It felt really good, actually. Felt like the old days,” smiled the 41-year-old Atwal, the first Indian to win on the PGA Tour in 2010.
“No mistakes, no bogeys, just solid. And it was playing easy, it was gettable. It was easier than yesterday in the afternoon.”
Three weeks into his comeback following a three-month layout due to a wrist injury, Bhullar showed he was also back in top form with four birdies on the card., including two in his last three holes.
“It was a great finish. I gave myself a lot of opportunities coming down the stretch. But really got lucky on number seven where I holed a bunker shot. Today was a consistent round. I hit a lot of greens in regulation,” said the 26-year-old, who is a five-time Asian Tour winner.
Jeev Milkha Singh was tied 46th at even-par-144.
The halfway cut was set at one-over-145 with 66 players moving into the final two rounds.
The four Indians who didn’t make the cut were Jyoti Randhawa (three-over-147), Chiragh Kumar (four-over-148), SSP Chowrasia (four-over-148) and Rashid Khan (five-over-149).
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