Classic Golf Resort, Mewat, Haryana, 01-03-2013
Shamim Khan edges out Mukesh Kumar in playoff
Shamim Khan of Delhi edged out Mukesh Kumar of Mhow in a playoff to win the PGTI Players Championship played at the Classic Golf Resort in Mewat, Haryana. Shamim and Mukesh headed to a playoff after finishing the regulation 72 holes with matching totals of 12-under-276.
Chikkarangappa S of Bangalore finished third at 11-under-277.
Shamim Khan (66-70-70-70), who was in third position overnight placed three strokes behind the leader Mukesh, made a solid start to the day with pars on the first eight holes and followed that up with a birdie on the ninth. He landed his approach shot from 115 yards to within a foot of the pin on the ninth. The 34-year-old reigning Rolex Rankings champion went two-under for the day with a birdie on the 14th after landing his chip within three feet of the hole.
Shamim bogeyed the 15th as a result of finding the bunker and missing a four feet putt. He trailed Mukesh by two shots after the 15th. However, there was a reversal of fortunes over the next two holes as Shamim birdied the 16th and Mukesh bogeyed the 17th. Shamim’s second shot from 200 yards stopped just six inches from the hole on the 16th and led to a birdie while Mukesh played a poor chip to bogey the 17th. The two players headed for a playoff after being tied at 12-under at the end of their rounds.
The first playoff hole (18th hole) turned out to be the decider as Shamim made par and Mukesh dropped a bogey. While Shamim found the green in three shots and made a two-putt, Mukesh missed the fairway and couldn’t convert a three feet par putt.
Shamim, who registered his ninth professional win on Friday, said, “A come-from-behind win is always special. This is also a very satisfying win as the playing conditions were quite tough due to the strong winds. The sideways wind made club-selection and putting extremely difficult. However, I hit some fabulous approach shots today and made a number of good chip-putts.
“I took my opportunities on the par-5s and made some solid pars on the last two holes and the playoff hole. It’s great to have a win under the belt early in the season. This gives me a huge boost ahead of some important events in the next few weeks,” added Shamim, who also won PGTI’s last event at the Classic Golf Resort in September 2012.
Mukesh Kumar (68-67-68-73) lost the opportunity to make it two titles in two weeks as he shot an ordinary 73 on Friday. Mukesh’s card featured three birdies and four bogeys as he struggled with his chipping and putting towards the end of his round.
Bangalore’s Chikkarangappa S (69-68-70-70) ended third with a total score of 11-under-277. He made a promising start to the day with four birdies on the first 14 holes but then stumbled with bogeys on the 15th and 16th to finish one stroke behind Shamim and Mukesh.
Delhi’s Rashid Khan claimed fourth place at 10-under-278 while Ashok Kumar, another Delhi golfer, secured fifth position with an eight-under-280 total.
Ainesh Ahluwalia of Gurgaon, the lone amateur to make the cut, won the trophy for the best performance by an amateur. Ahluwalia ended up in tied 15th place with a total of two-under-286.
About PGTI:
Formed in 2006, Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) is the recognised official body of professional golf in India. PGTI's objective is to promote professional golf in the country, as well as to give players an opportunity to be involved in the decision making on all aspects of the game. Headed by Mr. Srinivasan H R (President), PGTI's governing body comprises leading Indian golf professionals. PGTI currently has over 300 members.
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