Thaindian News

Perthshire (Scotland), Aug 29 (IANS) A double bogey late in the third round set Shiv Kapur back, just as he had played himself into contention for the title at the Johnnie Walker Championships at the Gleneagles Saturday. Kapur dropped a double bogey on par-5 16th and ended the day at par 72 and was five-under for three rounds in tied seventh place.
Kapur, placed precariously at 127th on European order of Merit and looking for a good finish to cement his 2010 Tour card, slipped two places down from overnight fifth. He is three behind the leader, Peter Hedblom (68), who is at eight-under.

Overnight leader, Peter Lawrie, dropped bogeys on 15th and 16th and slipped to one-over 73 for the day and was seven-under for the tournament and in second place.

Four players Gregory Bourdy, Jamie Donaldson, Soren Hansen and Steven o’Hara were in tied third, while Kapur and four others were tied seventh.

Kapur, starting the day at five-under, was three-under through four holes and looked set for the lead. Then between the fifth and tenth, he dropped three bogeys against one birdie. After the birdie on 14th, he was well placed at two-under for the day and close to then leader, Lawrie and Hedblom. Then came the double bogey and he dropped down.

Earlier in second round Kapur took a big step in his endeavour to secure the European Tour card with a steady second round of two-under 70.

Kapur, who has struggled with his form and then injured his shoulder briefly, found the touch that made him one of the exciting prospects on the Indian and Asian scene. He needs to be inside 115 to secure his card for 2010 and ensure that he plays the full Tour as he has since 2006.

Kapur’s compatriots, Jyoti Randhawa and S.S. Chowrasia, however missed the cut.

Randhawa, one-under 71 in first round, slipped with a 76 in second and ended at three-over 147. Chowrasia (74 and 74) was four-over as the cut came at one-over.