KATHMANDU – Dec. 13, 2004 – Shiv Kapur sank a 35 feet birdie putt to win a thrilling three-way play-off on the first play-off hole thereby pocketing his second Amby Valley PGAI Tour title in addition to the winner’s cheque of Rs 1,62,000 at the Rs 10-lakh (16 lakh NC) Surya Nepal Masters played at the par-72 Le Meridien Gokarna Forest Golf Resort.
Gurbaaz Mann, who threw away a certain win after he three-putted from three feet to double bogey the 18th, finished tied-second with fellow Chandigarh pro Amritinder Singh. The three had earlier tied at 11-under 277 which necessitated the play-off.
Meanwhile, Amby Valley PGAI Tour leader Ashok Kumar equaled the course record of eight-under 64, set by Shiv Kapur as recently as on Friday, to pole-vault to the tied-fourth position at 281 along with overnight leader Rafick Ali and Lucknow’s Sanjay Kumar.
It was on Monday, a day prior to the start of the tournament, that Shiv Kapur first set foot onto the Gokarna Forest Golf Resort. That day, it was ironically Gurbaaz Mann, Shiv’s practice partner who was advising him on how to tackle each hole at the course. Shiv Kapur would have definitely thought back to that day when he walked into a play-off with Mann and Amritinder on Sunday. Just prior to that Shiv was looking down a ten feet downhill putt to enforce the playoff. This he did with aplomb.
In the play-off, Shiv took the honor on the par-3 tenth, but left his nine-iron 35 feet short. Mann’s poor luck continued as he hit his tee shot down the right slope of the green, while Amritinder was nearly 50 feet away from the pin. While Mann failed to get on the green with his second shot and settled for bogey, Amritinder missed the cup by a whisker to par. Shiv Kapur’s round of 70, had an early set-back in the form of a double bogey on the second. On that occasion, the Delhi Golf Club pro found the right thicket with his tee shot and was forced to play out safe. The 22-year old then staged a brilliant recovery with birdies on the third, fourth, ninth, and 12th, before dropping a shot on the 15th.
He however ended his round in a flourish with that 10 footer which both fetched him a birdie and enforced the play-off. “I never gave-up and backed myself right through today’s round,’ said the Asian Games Gold Medalist. “I know I’ve had three second place finishes but that never bothered me. This win is however special as I love Nepal and this golf course,” added the Rookie who also won the Amby Valley MGC-Open at Chennai earlier this year.
Mann was plain unlucky. “I got careless with that three-feet birdie putt on the 18th which would have handed me a win on a platter,” said the golfer who also took his second putt light. “But you live and learn,” added the 22-year old. Mann’s round of five-under 67 was an exemplary one witnessing him making birdies out of sand fairway and water. Mann’s birdie came on the third, fourth, eighth, 11th, 12th and 15th. He eagled the seventh, dropped a shot on the fifth and double bogeyed the 18th.
Amritinder who shot a 70, had birdies on the first, third, fourth, 11th,15th and 18th and bogey on the fifth, sixth, eighth and ninth. The 32-year old was let down but his driver on quite a few occasions despite which he nearly took Shiv into the second play-off hole. Local hero Deepak Acharya had an ordinary final round with a double bogey on the fifth and a bogey on the 14th fetching him a round of three-over 75.
Deepak however still returned a tied-13th finish and pocketed a cheque of Rs 17,200. Ghale wins amateur title: Tashi Ghale fired a final round 79 to win the amateur title at a tournament tally of 312. Jeevan Rai and YS Adhikari finished second at 315 apiece.
Final scores: 277 Shiv Kapur (73,64,70,70), Gurbaaz Mann (68,71,71,67), Amritinder Singh (69,72,66,70); 281 Ashok Kumar (76,71,70,64), Sanjay Kumar (72,67,70,72), Rafick Ali Mollah (66,69,70,76); 282 Vijay Kumar (67,70,74,71); 283 Digvijay Singh (70,71,70,72), C Muniyappa (72,68,70,73), 284 Randhir Ghotra (74,65,73,72). Nepalese pros: 288 Deepak Acharya (71,70,72,75); 300 Ramesh Nagarkoti (75,70,77,78); 302 Pashupathi Sharma (76,78,70,78). Amateurs: 312 Tashi Ghale (77,77,79,79); 315 Jeevan Rai (76,85,72,82), YS Adhikari (79,73,79,84)
