Ras Al Khaimah, September 23, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Shiv Kapur made the most of his home advantage in the UAE, firing an error-free 10-under 62 to take a four-shot lead on the opening day of the second half of the IGPL Invitational 2026 at Al Hamra Golf Club.
The Dubai-based multiple Asian Tour winner, representing RVR Delhi Blue Bulls, produced a bogey-free round featuring eight birdies and a hole-in-one on the Par-3 15th. His 62 also equalled the course record.
Kapur, who had returned from a fitness boot camp with his trainer just days earlier, began with a birdie before finding his rhythm with four consecutive birdies from the third through sixth holes. After a par on the seventh, he birdied the eighth and parred the ninth to make the turn in 6-under 30.
He continued his charge with birdies on the 13th and 14th before acing the 15th with a 5-wood. He then parred the final three holes to complete a career-best 10-under 62 in an official IGPL event.
“The round was pretty solid. I think no real mistakes, very solid from tee to green, holed all the putts that I needed to. Obviously, the icing on the cake was when I had a perfect 5-iron on the 15th hole, which landed just right of the flag and rolled in perfectly,” Kapur said.
He added that extensive work on his game, fitness, diet and lifestyle during the off-season had helped him prepare for the second half of the season.
“It’s nice to get off to a good start. Obviously, long way to go in the tournament, but always a good start this way; hopefully I can carry on, keep the momentum going,” Kapur said.
Debutants Ravi Kumar, UAE’s Joshua Grenville-Wood, Varun Parikh of Flying Man, Kolkata, and Varun Chopra of Auro Realty, Goa, were tied for second at 6-under 66.
Grenville-Wood, who obtained UAE citizenship three years ago, carded an eagle, six birdies and two bogeys. Starting on the 16th, he finished strongly with three birdies in his last five holes, while his eagle came on the Par-5 third, his sixth hole of the round.
Ravi Kumar made seven birdies against one bogey, while Parikh posted a bogey-free 66 with six birdies.
Chopra also produced a remarkable finish. Starting on the sixth, he was 1-under through 13 holes, with four birdies, one bogey and a double bogey. He then closed with five consecutive birdies from the first through fifth holes to reach 6-under and join the group in second place.
Shaurya Binu was alone in sixth at 5-under 67, while Tushar Pannu, Raghav Chugh and Sukhman Singh shared seventh place at 4-under 68.
Four-time IGPL winner Gaganjeet Bhullar endured a difficult back nine with a string of bogeys and finished tied for 10th. He shared the position with IGPL debutant Arjun Prasad, teenage player Veer Ganapathy and Samarth Dwivedi. Sachin Baisoya, who started alongside Kapur and Bhullar, carded 72.
Kapur said he had previously shot 62 and also recorded a 60 at The Els Club, but described his 10-under 62 in an official IGPL tournament as one of the best rounds of his career.
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