Shiv Kapur lying 5th in Thailand

Edited by Anand Datla

February 12, 2015: Reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion David Lipsky of the United States underlined his credentials by firing a seven-under-par 65 to trail first round leader Michael Hoey of Northern Ireland by one at the inaugural US$2 million True Thailand Classic presented by Black Mountain on Thursday. Birthday boy Shiv Kapur played a terrific round to lie fifth with a 66, two behind Hoey.

Teeing off in the morning, Hoey had set the early pace with an impressive course record 64 after firing eight birdies to take the opening honours at the Thai showpiece which is also the richest golf tournament in Thailand. Chinese Taipei’s Hung Chien-yao was in relaxed mood as he took his place among the leaders with a 65, sharing second place with Lipsky and Spaniard Carlos Pigem at the Black Mountain Golf Club.

India’s Shiv Kapur celebrated his 33rd birthday by posting a 66 to take outright fifth place at the Thailand Classic, which is the first co-sanctioned tournament by the Asian Tour and European Tour in Thailand in eight years. Lipsky, who was tied for 42nd at the Asian Tour season-opening event in Malaysia last week, was happy to bounce back with an assured performance, befitting of his status as Asia’s number one in 2014.

“I had a bad finish to the week in Malaysia but each and every week, I’ve been getting better and this is the first stretch of the year and my game is still in pretty good shape. It’s always work in progress and I’m trying to get better all the time,” said Lipsky.

Hoey, a five-time European Tour winner, meanwhile took advantage of the early benign morning conditions to kick-start off his campaign promisingly. “We had 10 or 11 holes with not much wind, which was an advantage teeing off early,” said Hoey. “No bogeys, no fives on the card, and a course record is a nice start. I’m swinging the club nicely so hopefully I’ll put three more good rounds together and see what happens,” added Hoey.

Kapur kept the bogeys off his card to keep himself in contention. Despite nursing a cold, the birthday boy got off brightly with five birdies in his opening back-nine 10th. He added another birdie on six after the turn before returning home comfortably in 66. “It’s a nice present. You wake up in the morning hoping for a good day because you don’t want to be grumpy for the rest of the day. I couldn’t have asked for a better result. They keep saying beware of the sick golfer and it seems to work. Hopefully I can stay sick and keep playing the way I’m!” laughed Kapur.

Leading Scores after round 1 of the True Thailand Classic – par 72, 7359 Yards Black Mountain course:

64 – Michael HOEY (NIR).

65 – HUNG Chien-yao (TPE), Carlos PIGEM (ESP), David LIPSKY (USA).

66 – Shiv KAPUR (IND).

69 –  Thongchai JAIDEE (THA), Anirban LAHIRI (IND), Siddikur RAHMAN (BAN