Noida, February 13, 2015: 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.
Photo caption: Shamim Khan (centre) receives the winner's cheque from Mr.
Anil Sharma, Chairman, Amrapali Group (5th from left), Mr. M M Mishra, IAS
(Retd.), Secretary, Noida Golf Course (3rd from left). Also in the picture are
Cdr. S S Ahuja, GM, Noida Golf Course (extreme left), Mr. Uttam Singh Mundy,
Director, PGTI (2nd from left), Mr. Rakesh Agnihotri, Captain, Noida Golf
Course (6th from left) and Mr. Padamjit Sandhu, Director, PGTI (extreme right).
PGTI Press release
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