Shiv Kapur grabs US Open spot, joins Anirban Lahiri

SURREY: Shiv Kapur grabbed a spot in the US Open for the second year running through the International Sectional Qualifiers at Walton Heath, here today.

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."