Sharif edges Saim to win Sindh Amateur Golf title

KARACHI: There was plenty of drama in the final round of UMA 19th Sindh Amateur Golf Championship which concluded here at the Karachi Golf Club on Sunday.

With just three holes to go, the seasoned Muhammad Sharif and then young Saim Shazli were going neck and neck, both unwilling to give other any inch in their bid to win the prestigious championship. Both were tied at 3-over as they walked to the final tee – the challenging last hole on the Blue course. The big-hitting Saim, who had played back-to-back rounds of 73 on the first two day, hit the fairway and then landed just ten feet from the hole with his second shot. Sharif, who brought himself into contention with a stunning round of three-under 69 on Saturday, found himself well over 25 feet from the flag.

Saim just needed to putt it and become the Sindh amateur champion. With a sizeable gallery watching, the burly Saim missed the putt and had to settle with a par. Sharif’s putt fell around six feet short and he almost missed his par but was lucky that his ball didn’t lip out. There was a playoff with both the players managing pars. They went back again on the 18th hole and this time, Saim was unable to match his more consistent opponent as he made a bogey allowing Sharif to become the new Sindh Amateur champion.

Sharif finished with an aggregate of 219 (+3). Saim, too finished with a similar aggregate and was declared as the winner in amateurs (net) category after carding another round of 73 on the final day. Sajid Khan finished third with a tally of 222 followed by Zubair Hussain (227), Zohaib Asif (229), Adnan (231) and Zubair Ahmed (232).

Captain Azhar Iqbal was crowned as Sindh’s senior champion despite scoring his worst round in the event – an 81. He won with an aggregate of 234. Sohail Kareem Rana made a birdie on the last hole to finish as the runner-up (235) with a final round score of 77. Col Manzoor Akram, who carded 78 in the final round, was third (235) followed by Lt Col Zahid Iqbal (240), Omar Bangash (24), Asad I.A Khan (246), Ghazanfar Abbas (249) and Khalid Jamil Siddiqi (251).

Aania Farooq won the ladies title with a two-day gross aggregate of 152 while Dania Syed was the winner in net category. Yashal Shah won the junior title while Hyder Bilal was winner in net category. Group Captain Aftab A Khan retained his veterans title while Sohail Siddiqi was the winner in the net category.

Sohail Shams, CEO UMA, was the chief guest at the prize distribution ceremony. Also present at the occasion was Asad I A Khan, President Sindh Golf Association (SGA).