Pattaya: Shiv Kapur of India ended the Asian Tour season on a high after winning the Royal Cup at the Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club yesterday.
The Indian fired a four-under-par 67 to finish on 14-under 270, one stroke ahead of Thai star Prom Meesawat, who shot a 70.
The victory handed Kapur his third Asian Tour title of 2017 with his other wins coming at the Yeangder Heritage and the Panasonic Open India.
Yesterday was billed as a duel between Kapur and Prom as the pair pulled away from the pack after round three. At the start of the final round, Prom was two shots in front of Kapur, who was four strokes ahead of the rest of the field.
However, Prom lost his advantage as early as the second hole of the Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club. After pulling to the left, Prom had to settle for a bogey at the par-three hole, while Kapur knocked in a birdie.
Prom's further bogeys on the fifth and ninth handed Kapur the lead. Although, the 33-year-old Thai managed to shake off his nerves after the turn and it was all square again following consecutive birdies on the 11th and 12th.
Kapur did himself no favours when he bogeyed the 13th and 14th and in the process, handed Prom a two-shot lead again.
Kapur bounced back remarkably with two consecutive birdies of his own and it was back to a deadlock. With Prom bogeying the 17th, the door was left open for Shiv to win the US$500,000 (approximately 16.5 million baht) tournament, and he did.
Although, Prom nearly forced a play-off as he narrowly missed a birdie putt at the last hole of the tournament.
"It was a see-saw battle indeed. I had to come out fighting straight out of the blocks," said Kapur, who was the only multiple winner on the Asian Tour in 2017.
"I made two birdies in my first three holes and that reversed Prom's advantage. It doesn't always go to plan, but luckily, I started well and he made a bogey on the second hole and before I knew it, I was leading the tournament."
Prom was naturally disappointed to miss out on the title but admitted Kapur was a deserved champion.
"It was a good battle with Shiv. He was playing well and I simply made more mistakes. He deserved to win," said Prom.
"It was disappointing for sure. I thought I made the putt for birdie to force a play-off at the 18th. Anyway, it was a good tournament for me. It is always good to end the year with a second-place finish."
Gaganjeet Bhullar of India carded a 66 to cement third place after a late charge on the final day.
