Shiv Kapur clinched his first Asian Tour title in India, winning the Panasonic Open by three strokes, after bringing home a card of four-under-68 in the fourth and final round at the Delhi Golf Club on Sunday.
This is the second Asian Tour title of the season for Kapur, who fired five birdies against one bogey to stay three strokes clear off a pack of fellow Indians, including Ajeetesh Sandhu (65), Sudhir Sharma (69) and Chirag Kumar (64).
Kapur had won the Yeangder Heritage in April and finished second at the Thailand Open this season. He had won his first Asian tour title in 2005 at the Volvo Masters of Asia.
It’s an amazing feeling. This victory has not really sunk in yet but when I was walking down the 18th, I was really trying to hold back the emotions. I am at a loss for words, you dream about winning, you plan things but I never got that far in my career so I never really prepared a speech in my life.Shiv Kapur
“I grew up playing golf here and told myself I got to win at the Delhi Golf Club one day. So no words can actually describe how I'm feeling right now,” he added.
At 14-under-274, as many as seven golfers finished at a tied second spot, indicating that the top 10 was dominated by Indians with American Paul Peterson, who held a share of the lead after the third day, being the only exception as he held a share of the tied second place as well.
Others to finish tied second are Karandeep Kochhar (66), SSP Chawrasia (69) and Om Prakash Chouhan (69).
"When I won the Volvo masters it was a spring board for me and then there was a long gap and I didn't know if I will be able to win but Yeangder win gave me the belief that I can win again and winning here after all these years is really special. All wins have their own place in my heart.
"Of course, I have been waiting for it for a long, long time. So it is a huge monkey off my back. I didn't play my best golf but still shot 17-under, so I take a lot of positive," added Kapur, who had won the Gujarat Kensville Challenge and Dubai Festival City Challenge tour Grand Final in 2013.
First-round leader, Sandhu, who has been in rampaging form in the last three months with a T-3 at Take Solutions in Bengaluru, followed by a win in Taiwan and a win on the Japan Challenge Tour, sizzled with eight birdies and a bogey to provide a charge on the fourth day.
Sudhir, a two-time winner on the PGTI Feeder Tour, produced a flawless round with three birdies, while Karandeep blasted four birdies and an eagle to sneak into the tied second place.
Chawrasia, who has won three different Asian Tour events here – the 2008 Emaar-MGF, the 2014 Panasonic Open India and the 2015 Hero Indian Open at the DGC, also signed off at 274 after scoring five birdies and two bogeys.
Chiragh, who won the 2015 edition of the event and also was a runner-up at the Hero Indian Open in 2011, and fired nine birdies and a bogey in his sensational eight-under 64, while Chouhan carded three birdies, including picking a stroke at the last hole, to also break into the second place.
Moments after Kapur drained his putt in the 18th hole, a loud cheer reverberated across the DGC as the Delhi golfer waved to the crowd. His colleagues and friends, including Chirag and Rahil Gangjee, had him drenched in soda and water to mark the celebration.
When I walked with a three stroke lead at the 18th and hit the second shot down the fairway, there was a big sigh of relief inside me. I knew I can allow a little celebration now, said the 35-year-old, who had won his first Asian tour title in 2005 at the Volvo Masters of AsiaShiv Kapur
Among others, Honey Baisoya (68) and Shamim Khan (72) signed off at the tied ninth spot with a total of 276. Three stroke behind was Gaganjeet Bhullar (67) at tied 12th, while Shubhankar Sharma (69) signed off tied 18th.
(Breathe In, Breathe Out: Are you finding it tough to breathe polluted air? Join hands with FIT in partnership with #MyRightToBreathe to find a solution to pollution. Send in your suggestions to fit@thequint.com or WhatsApp @ +919999008335)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)