Shabbir overcomes Ahmed to regain CNS Open crown

KARACHI: On a day when he was hitting long and hitting straight, it seemed tough for anybody to stop the young Ahmed Baig from winning his maiden CNS Open title.

But hitting long and straight aren’t enough to conquer Shabbir Iqbal, the most successful professional in Pakistan golf history.

On Sunday here at the Karachi Golf Club, Shabbir once again proved that he continues to be the country’s ace professional when he won the Engro 24th CNS Open Golf Championship, edging Ahmed by a solitary stroke. It was his 189th title on the national circuit.

While overnight leader Matloob Ahmed, the defending champion, stumbled it soon became clear in the final round of the Rs8.5 million championship that the main battle for the coveted title would be fought between Shabbir and Ahmed.

And it turned out to be an epic battle that went down to the wire with experience prevailing over youth.

On the front nine, there was a three- way battle with Ahmed making three birdies on holes 4, 6 and 7 to keep himself in the hunt. Shabbir, too, was in full flow as he began with back to back birdies on the first two holes and then had two more on holes 4 and 8. But bogies on holes 6 and 9 made sure that all three – Shabbir, Ahmed and Matloob – will go to back nine without much difference in their aggregates. However, on the Blue side (back nine), Matloob’s game fell apart and he soon dropped out of contention. Ahmed made three birdies on holes 10, 12 and 15. But a bogey on hole 16 put Ahmed on the back foot. It all went down to the par-4 18th where Ahmed failed to recover from a wayward tee-shot. In contrast, Shabbir managed a par from a tough situation to win the championship by a solitary stroke. Shabbir finished with an aggregate of 276 (-12) followed by Ahmed 277. At 280 was Matloob Ahmed followed by Muhammad Alam (281), Muhammad Munir (283) and Waheed Baloch (284).

In the amateurs’ category, Yashal Shah made a stunning comeback with a final round score of 69 to edge national amateur champion Omar Khalid by a single stroke. Yashal made an eagle on the par-4 first hole and a series of birdies to win the title with a four-day aggregate of 303. Omar, who led the pack during the best part of the four-day championship, played the final round with a back sprain and squandered a big lead due to consecutive doubles bogies on holes 14 and 15. He finished with 304. In third place was Arsalan Shikoh (309).

In the seniors’ category, Cdre Shahid Habib won the title. Asad I.A Khan was the runner-up.

The four-day championship concluded with a prize distribution ceremony. Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Amjad Khan Niazi was the chief guest at the occasion.