Sport - Golf

Kapur's best European Tour finish

PERTH: Birthday boy Shiv Kapur recorded his best score on the European Tour with a tied 12th finish at the $2.3 million Johnnie Walker Classic here on Sunday.

Kapur, who turned 24, carded a fourth straight sub-par round at two-under 70 to finish the week at 12-under 276 that pushed him to third place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit and improve his chances of getting a full European Tour card for the 2007 season.

"I'm happy with the way I played, though there were times when I left a few shots out there. Still, coming close to a top 10 was quite satisfying," said Kapur, who finished one shot behind his childhood idol, Fred Couples.

Couples fired an eagle on the closing 18th to finish the day at 72 and tied for ninth at the event, co-sanctioned by the Asian, European and Australasian circuits.

American Kevin Stadler stepped out of his father Craig's shadow as he joined the list of celebrated winners of the Johnnie Walker Classic with an eagle on the 18th for the third day in a row.

That beat back the challenge from Australian Nick O'Hern. Stadler, the overnight leader, struck a mighty eagle at the par five 18th hole at The Vines Resort and Country Club to claim a sensational victory, closing with a final round of three-under-par 69 for a winning score of 20-under-par 268.

"I'm pretty satisfied with four decent rounds, to shoot under par over four days on a course like this, especially in the final round when the wind was blowing," said Kapur.

The results: 268 — Kevin Stadler (U.S.); 270 — Nick O'Hern (Aus); 272 — Richard Green (Aus), Robert Allenby (Aus); 273 — K.J. Choi (Kor); 274 — Francesco Molinari (Ita), Adam Scott (Aus), Ian Poulter (Eng); 275 — Gavin Flint (Aus), Fred Couples (U.S.), David Diaz (Aus); 276 — Ross Fisher (Eng), Chris Campbell (Aus), Shiv Kapur (Ind). — PTI

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