Kapur wins inaugural Taiwan event

Shiv Kapur claimed victory at the inaugural Yeangder Heritage in Miaoli, Taiwan yesterday, beating overnight leader Yikeun Chang with an impressive eight-under-par 64. The 35-year-old veteran from India ended strong, shooting five birdies in his closing seven holes and finished with a winning total of 16-under-par 272. The win ends a long drought for Kapur, whose last Asian Tour title was 12 years ago when he was still a rookie. It also marked a strong comeback for him after undergoing liver surgery last September. “I really struggled last year,” said Kapur. “Now I’ve come back after six months and to win the way I did is satisfying.” Kapur, who was the Asian Games individual champion in 2002, was the oldest player in the final three groups yesterday. Chang of Korea and Gavin Green from Malaysia tied for second place. The 23-year-old Korean was eyeing his first Asian Tour victory and held the lead for the past two days before conceding to Kapur. Levy edges Frittelli in playoff for China Open titleAlexander Levy became the first golfer to win the China Open twice after he defeated overnight leader Dylan Frittelli in a playoff at the Topwin Golf and Country Club yesterday.The 2014 winner, who was seven shots behind Frittelli at the start of the final day, birdied the 18th hole to card a 67 and force a playoff with the South African at 17-under-par for the tournament.Earlier, Frittelli was in the driving seat after taking a four-shot lead to the back nine but a double bogey on the 12th hole saw him lose momentum.Following his fourth European Tour title and his first of the season, Levy said he is aiming for a home Ryder Cup appearance at Le Golf National in 2018.“That’s an amazing feeling to be back in the winner’s circle,” Levy said.“It’s a goal and a dream for me to play the Ryder Cup in France. I will do a lot of work to play the Ryder Cup and I will do my best to be part of the team.”Pablo Larrazabal, who started the day in second, endured a terrible start with back-to-back bogeys and signed off with a 72 to finish third.Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger, last week’s winner at Shenzhen International, maintained his impressive run in China after carding a 67. He finished tied-fourth alongside England’s Chris Wood.