Noida, 13-02-2015

Shamim Khan coasts to five-shot win at The Hemisphere PGTI Masters

Delhi’s Shamim Khan coasted to a five-shot win at The Hemisphere PGTI Masters played at the Noida Golf Course. Shamim fired a three-under-69 in the final round to end up with a tournament total of 14-under-274. Mukesh Kumar of Mhow finished runner-up at nine-under-279.

Shamim Khan (72-67-66-69), the overnight leader by one shot, wrapped up his 11th career title and ninth victory on the PGTI with an error-free final round that saw him claim three birdies. The 37-year-old continued from where he left in round three as he sank an early birdie on the second after converting a 15-footer. Shamim held on to his advantage by making pars on the next 11 holes. Khan all but sealed the title with two long birdie putts from a range of 15 to 25 feet on the 14th and 15th. He then made pars on the last three holes to register a comfortable win.

Shamim said, “I was in control from the very start and kept up the momentum till the end despite the windy conditions. The putter was hot today and all three birdies were a result of long putts. I feel I’m at the top of my game once again. I had a little dip in form in the first half of 2014 but I got back into the groove with the win at Digboi in November last year. I’ve done well at this venue in the past having won a title here earlier. The good memories from my previous win here helped me this week. The change of clubs has also worked for me. I’m now quite comfortable with my new clubs.”

Shamim, who finished sixth in the opening event of the season last week, has now climbed from sixth place to second position in the 2015 Rolex Rankings.

Mukesh Kumar (68-67-71-73), who was overnight tied second, finished runner-up for the second straight week after returning a 73 in the final round. Mukesh trailed Noida’s Amardip Sinh Malik (68-70-68-74), who was also overnight tied second, for a major part of the day. However, Mukesh climbed from third to second place after Malik found the water and as a result dropped a double-bogey on the 18th. Amardip, who had a birdie and a bogey earlier in the day, thus finished with a 74 to claim third place at eight-under-280.

Mukesh, who made two birdies against three bogeys in round four, has now climbed from second place to first position in the 2015 Rolex Rankings.

Bangalore’s Chikkarangappa secured fourth place at seven-under-281 while another Bangalorean Khalin Joshi grabbed a share of fifth place along with Delhi-based rookie Pratap Atwal at six-under-282.