Shamim Khan wins the PGTI Players Championship at Classic Golf Resort

March 2, 2013

Mewat, Haryana, March 1, 2013: 
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 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, ぼbr> 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.
㉠took my opportunities on the par-5s and made some solid pars on the
last two holes and the playoff hole. Its 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,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 card
featured three birdies and four bogeys as he struggled with his
chipping and putting towards the end of his round.
Bangalore,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,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 11th place with a total of four-under-284.