Shamim Khan wins PGTI Players Championship title

Pune, April 20, 2012: Shamim Khan of Delhi displayed nerves of steel to walk away with the title at the PGTI Players Championship presented by Poona Club Ltd. Shamim fired a two-under-69 at the Poona Club Golf Course on Friday to finish the tournament with a six-under-278 total. Amardip Sinh Malik of Meerut was the runner-up as he finished one stroke behind the winner.

Shamim Khan (69-67-73-69), the overnight joint leader along with Amardip Sinh Malik and Sanjay Kumar, established an early lead in round four after he bogeyed the third and made birdies on the sixth and seventh. Shamim sank a 20-feet putt for birdie on the sixth. The 33-year-old Khan hit a rough patch when he bogeyed the 11th and conceded the lead to Malik who posted three straight birdies on the ninth, 10th and 11th thanks to some brilliant hitting.

Shamim got back to level terms with Amardip after sinking birdies on the 14th and 15th. Shamim landed his second shot within a foot on the 14th and then sank a 12-footer on the 15th. The 18th turned out to be the decisive hole. Shamim recovered well after a poor tee-shot with an excellent chip and a 12-feet putt to make par on the 18th and seal the title even as Malik dropped a bogey on the same hole.

Shamim, who won his sixth professional title, said, “I did not miss short putts today, unlike the previous rounds. My chipping was also very good. This win gives me a great deal of satisfaction. I had to bring all my experience to the fore to get out of a tough situation today. I kept my composure and made a tremendous up and down on the final hole to set up the victory. I’m very proud of this performance.”

Amardip Sinh Malik (68-69-72-70) fired five birdies against four bogeys in his final round of one-under-70. Malik missed his 15-feet par putt by a whisker on the 18th to finish as the runner-up at five-under-279.

Mukesh Kumar of Mhow finished third at four-under-280 while Lucknow’s Sanjay Kumar was fourth at two-under-282.

Photo caption: Shamim Khan displays his winner's cheque at Poona Club golf course on April 20, 2012. 

Press release