Shiv leads charge as India join Singapore, Philippines in lead

Kuala Lumpur, Sep 14 (UNI) Shiv Kapur dazzled in the calming presence of veteran Gaurav Ghei and the duo carded the lone under-par score of the day to reignite India's World Cup Qualifier campaign by joining Singapore and Philippines atop the leaderboard on four-under 138 here today.

The Ghei-Kapur duo took advantage of the par fives and returned a second round of one-under 70 in the foursomes format on a tough scoring day at Seri Selangor Golf Club here today.

Singapore is represented by Mardan Mamat and Lam Chih Bing while the Philippines team comprise Juvic Pagunsan and Gerald Rosales.

The top-two teams, after four rounds, will qualify for the World Golf Championships-World Cup in Barbados in December.

The day clearly belonged to Shiv, currently sixth on the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit, while Ghei helped him to keep India's hopes alive with a workman-like display and the pair capitalised on the three-par fives with two birdies and an eagle.

''We've got our confidence back as we were both unhappy about the first round,'' said Ghei, who is chasing a third World Cup appearance.

''We kept it going and hung in there with some sensible golf,'' he said.

They, however, did not have the best of starts as they double bogeyed the second hole after Ghei drove into the trees. But they easily converted birdies on the par fives on the fifth and sixth holes. Dropped shots on seven and nine and another birdie on 11 kept them level for the round before Kapur came up with a moment of magic.

In the greenside bunker at the par five 13th, the 24-year-old splashed their team's third shot out which eventually found the bottom of the cup for an unlikely eagle. The Indians dropped a shot at the last after Ghei missed the fairway.

''When we were walking up the 13th green, I casually told Shiv to just hole the bunker shot and he goes on to do it. It was amazing,'' Ghei said.

Kapur, on his part, thanked Ghei for holding the ship together after their rough start.

''Gaurav kept telling me to keep fighting after our miserable start. It's turned out well as the other teams struggled in this format,'' he said.

Second round scores (foursomes): 138: India (Shiv Kapur/Gaurav Ghei) 68-70, Singapore (Mardan Mamat/ Lam Chih Bing) 65-73, Philippines (Gerald Rosales/Juvic Pagunsan) 64-74 141: Finland (Mikko Maneros/Juha Pekka Peltomaki) 69-72, Hong Kong (James Stewart/David Freeman) 63-78 143: Italy (Emanuele Canonica/Francesco Molinari) 68-75, Malaysia (Danny Chia/Iain Steel) 65-78 144: Switzerland (Martin Rominger/Nicolas Sulzes) 70-74 145: Chinese Taipei (Lu Wei-lan/Lu Wei-chih) 70-75 146: Holland (Ruben Wechgelaer/John Bleys) 73-73 147: Pakistan (Muhammed Munir/Imdad Hussain) 69-78 148: Ghana (Emos Korblah/Victo Brave Mensah) 69-79 150: Myanmar (Zaw Moe/Soe Kyaw Naing) 72-78 160: Mauritius (Billy Narraina/Vishnoo Seeneevassen) 75-85 UNI XC AY PDS BD1415