Shiv Kapur T47 after R3 China Open

Edited by Anand Datla

April 25, 2015: Shiv Kapur was tested for the first time this week at the China Open. He made three bogeys and a triple bogey at the 16th hole, besides three birdies to sign on a 75 on Saturday. Kapur is currently lying at 1-over 217 even as the front end of the leaderboard was crammed with contenders. Defending champion Alex Levy will be part of a sprint finish during the final round of the Volvo China Open after the Frenchman ended day three in a four-way tie for the lead.

The Frenchman started the day a shot behind compatriot Julien Quesne, but found himself two shots clear after birdieing his first four holes. However, there were no further gains for the 24 year old and three bogeys led to a 71 at Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club, allowing England’s David Howell and Chinese pair Li Hao-tong and Wu Ashun to draw level on eight under par.

The 19 year old Li, runner-up in last week’s Shenzhen International, and Wu will both seek to become the first Chinese player to win a European Tour event on home soil.

Two-time European Tour winner Levy’s early birdie burst included a 60 foot putt on the third, but it came to a halt when he ran through the green twice at the fifth en route to his first dropped shot.

“It was the perfect start for me, but after that I got a little bit nervous, because I haven’t played well for three months now so I haven’t been in this position for a while,” said Levy, who is looking to become the first player to win this tournament twice. “It’s nice to be back at the top of the leaderboard, but I have to get used to it again.”

“I’m just really happy to be playing some good golf again, that’s more important than me worrying about winning the trophy again. I’ll need to have a good round again tomorrow, but it’s not easy on this course because you can’t be too aggressive.”

Howell, whose last win came at St Andrews 18 months ago, followed six straight pars with birdies at the seventh and eighth before holing a curling 40 footer on the tenth.

Good approach play set up further gains on the 11th and 13th, but he dropped his only shot of the day at the next after pitching into a bunker. “It was a very nice day for me,” said the 39 year old after his round of 68. “I felt like there was a score to be had out there, and I adapted to the conditions much better than I did yesterday, when I struggled with the comparative softness of the course. I knew what to expect today, and took advantage.”

Li dropped a shot at the long second, but managed to recover with four birdies to turn in 33 before parring his way in for a 69, which was matched by Wu. “I will just stick with my plan and play the best I can do out there without thinking about the finish,” said Li.

Sweden’s Magnus A Carlsson shot the best round of the day – his 65 moving him 37 places up the leaderboard to share fifth with England’s Seve Benson, Scot Richie Ramsay and Thailand’s Prom Meesawat on six under.

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Source: European Tour Website