Dubai: Shiv Kapur installed himself as the firm favourite for the season-ending Dubai Festival City Challenge Tour finals with a sensational fightback for a card of five-under 67.

He was spectacular as he recovered from an indifferent start with two bogeys in first four holes to come back with a 67 that put him in a commanding position at 14-under.

He is four shots clear of Will Besseling (68) and five shots ahead of four-man pack in third place. The pack included Andrea Pavan, who was 12-under after 36 holes but dropped down with a 75 in the third.

Kapur started the week in 20th place and needed a strong finish to get into the top-15 and secure his European Tour card for 2014. Kapur has played the least number of events, eight, in the entire field.

He won the first event of the 2013 season on Challenge Tour at the Kensville Challenge in Ahmedabad. But he then played little on Challenge Tour and kept straddling between Asian and European Tour events, where managed some starts. He was languishing in 36th place two weeks ago. Then he made a dash to the closing run on the Challenge Tour. He finished runner-up at the Foshan City Open and rose to 20th on Money List and ensured a spot in 45-man field for the Dubai Festival City finals.

Kapur shot 69 on first day and then followed that with a 66 on second day. On the third day, Kapur once again faced his demons on the third and fourth, both which he bogeyed in second and third rounds.