US Open: Shiv Kapur shoots 72 in R1

Report by Anand Datla

June 18, 2015: On a day when Chambers Bay rewarded discipline and punished any lack of it, the two Indians endured a middling day on the course. Shiv Kapur signed on a two over 72, while Anirban Lahiri returned a disappointing 75 for his efforts at the spectacular seaside course. Two men were in the lead after making a very satisfying 65 in the first round – Swede Henrik Stenson and the born again Dustin Johnson. Amateur Brian Campbell made an outstanding 67 to get in the mix at the par 70 course on the Pacific Northwest course.

The action began for Kapur at the third hole, after starting off with pars at the first two holes. He three putted at the par-3 third to suffer his first bogey of the day. He made a five at the par-4 fifth hole to slip to two over for the round.

Kapur added one more bogey at the sixth, but corrected course when he hit a perfect tee shot at the ninth to set up a birdie just seven feet from the flag. That meant he took 37 to get through his first nine holes.

The 33 year old improved his situation with a second birdie at the 317 yard par-4 12th hole. But consecutive bogeys at 14 and 15 saw him slip back to three over for the day. Kapur sliced a shot off the course when he made three at the 385 yard 16th hole to get back to two over.

Kapur made 12 of 14 fiarways and hit 67% greens in regulation on a day when his overall game was good. Lahiri was having a far more difficult time adjusting to the coastal winds and the conditions at Chambers Bay.

He started with five straight pars, but a double bogey at the 494 yard sixth hole spelt the beginning of a wretched phase during his first round. He went on to bogey three of the next four holes to slip down to five over with seven to play.

Lahiri made birdies at 12 and 17, but bogeys also came at 14 and 16 to nullify any advantage he drew from those two pins. The 27 year old player is now ten adrift and at serious risk of missing the cut on Friday.

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