Report by Anand Datla
April 16, 2015: Indian golfer Shiv Kapur produced an efficient 69 in the first round of the Shenzhen International tournament to squeeze into the top 10. Kapur was lying 3-under after 18 holes at the Genzon Golf Club among a crowded bunch of ten golfers. Starting the day among the early groups, just a shade before 0700am, Kapur struck five birdies and two bogeys to remain just three behind the leader, Wen-yi Huang.
Gaganjeet Bhullar though had a rather forgettable round, signing off on a 3-over 75 to flirt with danger. The only other Indian in the fray, Bhullar started on the back nine and an eagle at the par-5 13th hole sent his hopes soaring. But a miserable run of three bogeys in four holes, starting at the 14th saw him drop into over par territory.
His anguish deepened when he made a double bogey at the par-4 fifth hole as he slipped to T97 on the leaderboard. After an anxious night tossing in the hotel bed, Bhullar will be back on the tee on Friday knowing that he needs a low round just to make the weekend.
Kapur though has no such worries. He made two birdies on the front and added three more on the return stretch to position himself inside the top 10. With the course playing nice and easy, he will look to consolidate his position with another solid outing when he returns to the course for the second round.
The 32 year old Kapur is currently ranked 272 in the world, and a good week in China should help him further his chances of moving inside the top 200 this season. After finishing 68th at the Hero Indian Open, Kapur missed the cut at the Tshwane Open and finished T46 in Morocco at the end of March.
Kapur’s best showing this season came at the Thailand Classic where he finished T11 after shooting three rounds below 70. Bhullar hasn’t made a cut since his T32 finish at the ISPS Handa Wales Open last September.
