Teen Kim steals the show

Nuh (Haryana), November 17

A double-bogey on the last hole proved costly as Indian golfer Shiv Kapur signed off tied-2nd along with compatriot S Chikkarangappa at the Panasonic Open India here today.

Kapur (70), who lost out in a play-off at the Thailand Open last week, was again denied victory this week as he conceded a one-shot lead to 17-year-old South Korean sensation Joohyung Kim, who fired a 7-under 65 to bag the top honours with a total of 13-under 203.

Kapur and Chikkarangappa (67) ended with a total of 12-under 204 at the Classic Golf and Country Club here.

Indians Vikrant Chopra (10-under 206) and Veer Ahlawat (8-under 208) claimed career-best finishes of tied-5th and tied-8th, respectively.

Kim, who earned his Asian Tour card for the remainder of the 2019 season after claiming three wins on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) this year, continued his hot streak in India with rounds of 70, 68 and 65 at the $400,000 event, which was contested over 54 holes.

“I’m really speechless. It has been a dream of mine to play on the Asian Tour ever since I was young. It’s really wonderful to come here, be in contention and win,” said Kim, who became the second-youngest Asian Tour winner. “I cannot describe the feeling now. The season has been great especially coming back from my injuries and winning three times on the ADT and now this victory.”

Kapur (67-67-70), who was in a 3-way lead after the penultimate round, mixed five birdies with a bogey and a double-bogey today.

Kapur was leading by one shot till he hit his tee shot out of bounds on the 18th. The Dubai-based golfer missed a 20-feet bogey putt that would’ve taken him into a play-off with Kim.

Chikkarangappa (69-68-67) produced his best round of the week to secure the joint runners-up position, his best for the season. He got his confidence going with the early birdie on the third where he made an 11-foot conversion.

The Bengaluru player then added two more birdies and a bogey till the 10th. Chikkarangappa managed to finish well with three birdies over the last five holes where he made two quality chip-putts and a 30-footer after a poor second shot on the 15th.

The other Indians in the top-20 were Arjun Prasad and M Dharma — both tied-11th at 7-under 209 — as well as Om Prakash Chouhan, Karandeep Kochhar, Khalin Joshi and Rashid Khan — all tied-14th at 6-under 210.

Eagle rush helps Fleetwood win Nedbank Challenge

Sun City (South Africa): Englishman Tommy Fleetwood carded three eagles in a scintillating final round 65 to claim a play-off victory over Swede Marcus Kinhult at the Nedbank Golf Challenge today.

Fleetwood started the day six shots behind overnight leader Zander Lombard but surged up the leaderboard and into a play-off, which he won on the first extra hole as Kinhult was off target with his drive and could only card a bogey five.

Fleetwood rolled in a five-foot put in front of a packed gallery at the Gary Player Country Club to lift the trophy, having finished tied with Kinhult on a 12-under for the tournament.

The world No. 18, and highest ranked player in the field, claimed the $2.5-million first prize and his first tournament win since the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in January 2018.

“I made a great up and down on one and without that the day could have been completely different,” Fleetwood said. — Agencies