The experienced Shamim Khan overcame a challenge from youngster Veer Ahlawat to register his second win at the IndianOil SERVO Masters Golf here today.
The 39-year-old Shamim came through in a playoff against the 21-year-old Veer after both the Delhi-based professionals ended the regulation 72 holes with identical scores of nine- under-279 at the tranquil Digboi Golf Links.
It was Shamim's third title of the season and his 15th overall.
Shamim took home the winner's cheque of Rs. 6 lakh from the Rs. 40 lakh event and continued in second place on the PGTI Order of Merit.
However, with Shamim's season earnings moving to Rs. 35,58,250, he has now narrowed the gap between himself and the money list leader Udayan Mane to just Rs. 1 lakh.
Shamim (72-66-71-70), the overnight joint leader, looked in control when he sank his second birdie of the day, a 35- footer on the fifth, which gave him a two-shot lead.
But there was a twist when Ahlawat (71-70-69-69), who was overnight tied third and one off the lead, produced birdies on the sixth, seventh and ninth, while Shamim dropped a bogey on the eighth.
After nine holes, Ahlawat, playing one group ahead of the leaders, drew level with Shamim to emerge as a top contender.
Ahlawat, playing only his second season as a professional, finally took the sole lead when he drove the 12th green to set up a birdie. He then dropped a shot on the 13th but regained his outright lead with a brilliant chip-putt birdie on the 15th.
Ahlawat then missed a few chances to seal his maiden title, notably an up and down for par on the 18th.
The match went into a playoff as Shamim made pars on his last 10 holes which included a crucial five feet conversion on the 18th.
Ahlawat hit the green while Shamim was in the bunker after two shots each during the playoff on the par-4 18th.
Shamim managed to turn the tables with a gem of a bunker shot that set up a tap-in for par. The six-foot-three-inch tall Ahlawat, on the other hand, three-putted from 20 feet for a bogey that gave Shamim his 13th PGTI title.
Meanwhile, Manu Gandas of Gurgaon fired a final round of 71 to take third place at seven-under-281.
Bangladesh's Md Zamal Hossain Mollah struck a 67, the best score of the last round, to end up in tied fourth at five-under-283 along with Noida's Rahul Bajaj (71).
Bengaluru's M Dharma, the joint leader from round three, slipped to tied 10th at two-under-286 after a fourth round of 77.
Dulal Kalowar (76-74-76-77), the only local player to make the cut, shot a 77 today to end the week in tied 47th at 15-over-303.
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