Shiv Kapur Joins Anirban Lahiri at US Open Golf
Playing two rounds on the same day, Shiv Kapur totalled 10-under 134 for to finish one shot behind medallist Alexander Levy of France, who earned his a debut appearance at the US Open. He shot 67-67 in the two rounds.
- Press Trust of India
- Updated: May 26, 2015 01:13 PM IST
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Shiv Kapur grabbed a spot in the US Open for the second year running through the International Sectional Qualifiers at Walton Heath, here on Tuesday.
Playing two rounds on the same day, Kapur totalled 10-under 134 for to finish one shot behind medallist Alexander Levy of France, who earned his a debut appearance at the US Open. He shot 67-67 in the two rounds.
Jeev Milkha Singh, however missed out, finishing two shots away from getting into a play-off. Jeev carded 69 and 72. A total of 11 spots were available from the qualfiers, where 82 players started off.
In the first round played in the morning, Kapur had four birdies and two bogeys on front nine and then birdied times 13th, 15th and 16th on back nine for a 67.
In the afternoon round, he was flawless as he birdied third and eighth and birdied the same holes as morning for another 67.
Kapur will join his friend and colleague Anirban Lahiri in the second Major of the year a Chambers Bay from June 18 to 21. This will be Kapur's fourth appearance in a Major and he has come through a qualifier each time.
He has twice played at British Open (Hoylake 2006 and Muirfield 2013) after gaining spots in qualifiers and for US Open in 2014 (Pinehurst) and now 2015 in Chambers Bay.
Kapur was ecstatic with his performance, saying,"That's two years in a row now I've qualified from here (for US Open) so it is my happy hunting ground. I had a decent showing at Pinehurst last year (tied 23rd) so hopefully I can do even better this year. This afternoon I was blemish free - five birdies, no bogeys, so I'm very pleased."
He added,"Last year, was the coolest event I've played. I got cheered around all the way and coming up 18, I remember finishing with a birdie and it was the biggest cheer I've ever heard, so the US Open is really, really cool. At the end of the day, we play the sport to play the Majors and compete against the best, so it is a dream come true."
Commenting on being at the US Open, he said,"Michael Campbell showed it can be done (winning the US Open after coming through qualifiers in 2005). Last year, I was on the leaderboard for a while and I know if I play my best it is not out of the equation. But I just want to go out there and enjoy playing in another US Open."
Levy earned a debut appearance in the US Open after finishing one shot clear of Kapur even as one-handed chipper Jason Palmer secured a Major Championship debut.
Two-time European Tour winner Levy followed a six under par round of 66 on the Old Course in the morning with a five under par 67 on the New Course in the afternoon to finish on 11 under par, heading the 11 players to earn a spot at Chambers Bay Golf Club, in Washington.
Others making the grade were Englishman John Parry, Sweden's Alex Noren, who was one over par after 19 holes of the 36 hole qualifier and then surged up the leaderboard with eight birdies and an eagle in the space of 15 holes to earn his third US Open appearance with a closing 64 to take fourth spot on eight under par.
Denmark's Lucas Bjerregaard, Englishman Palmer, Germany's Marcel Siem, Australian Marcus Fraser and the South African trio of Van Der Walt, Thomas Aiken and Garth Mulroy secured their spots at the third play-off hole. Welshman Oliver Farr the man to miss out on a Major debut to be one of the two alternates with Fabrizio Zanotti.