Golfer Shiv second at Royal Cup

Pattaya : Indian golfer Shiv Kapur carded a three-under 67 in the third and peultimate round to move into the second spot in the $500,000 Royal Cup here on Saturday.

Defending champion Shiv's total after the three days was nine-under 201 -- two shots behind South African overnight leader Justin Harding, who battled to a one-over 71 to stay atop the leaderboard.

The highlight of Shiv's round was three birdies in four holes, starting from 14th hole. Prior to that he had two birdies against two bogeys at the Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club.

"Nothing much was happening up till hole 14 when I made a good putt to get some momentum going. Had a good chip on hole 16 to make birdie and on 17 I holed a 30-footer for birdie again," Shiv said in an Asian Tour release.

"Happy with the way I finished since all the action happened for me on the last five holes. It was just one of those days where you stay patient when the conditions are tough and you get rewarded."

The 32-year-old Harding reeled in 17 straight pars before dropping his first bogey of the week on the 54th hole, reducing his overnight lead to two.

American Jarin Todd posted a 69 to stay three shots off the pace. New Zealand's Mark Brown and Japanese Naoto Nakanishi shared the fourth spot on seven-under 203 total.

After Shiv, next best Indian was Gaganjeet Bhullar, who scored a 69 to share the ninth spot with five others at five-under 205 total.

Viraj Madappa was tied 24th on two-under 208 total (70-69-69). S. Chikka scored 67 to take his total to one-under 209 -- same as Honey Baisya as they tied for the 30th spot.

One stroke behind the pair were Khalin Joshi and Himmat Rai.