Shiv Kapur, Digvijay finish tied third

The Indians tied for third place with Australian Alistair Presnell who racked up a five-under 31 to jump up the leaderboard at 281.

Coming to the 18th tee, after Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng and Marcus Both had finished at eight-under, Kapur and Digvijay needed birdies to get into the play-off.

Both had birdied 18th and was one of only three players to do so on the tough par-four closing hole.

But Kapur and Digvijay could managed only pars and ended one shot of the winning score.

Marksaeng beat Marcus Both with a birdie on the first play-off hole after they were both tied at eight-under 280.

“I hit a great shot into 18 and got cheated. The wind picked up and the ball rolled to the back of the green. But I’m pleased to finish third as I was in the running throughout the four rounds. I played well this week but two other guys played a bit better,” said Digvijay, whose finish matched his career-best outing at the 2002 Indian Open.

For Kapur, it was his best finish in an Asian Tour event. “I am playing well, though it is disappointing to come so close but not make it,” said Kapur, who is now in the top 60 of the merit list, meaning he will keep his Asian Tour card for 2006.

Of the other Indians, Rahil Gangjee had a nightmarish start with two double bogeys and two bogeys as he went to six-over after four holes.

He managed three birdies but also bogeyed two more holes to end up at five-over 77 and a total of six-over for tied 30th place.

Vivek Bhandari and Uttam Singh Mundy are tied for 51st place at 11-over totals.

Randhawa, Johl miss cut

St Andrews: Jyoti Randhawa and Amandeep Johl missed the cut after indifferent performances in the third round of the Dunhill Links Championship, a celebrity pro-am.

Randhawa, playing on the old course, shot a five-over 77 to be four-over for three days. Johl went three-over compiling a score of four-over 220.

The Indian duo was tied 84th with the top 60 and ties making the cut.

Johl had just one birdie and four bogeys, while Randhawa had one birdie to go with five bogeys.

The team of Johl and Kapil Dev tied for 71st in the pro-am competition with Randhawa and his partner Lee Dixon. They were 10-under for three days in betterball competition.