SEASONED SHAMIM KHAN RETAINS INDIANOIL SERVO MASTERS
TITLE AFTER CLINCHING NAIL-BITING PLAYOFF ENCOUNTER
AGAINST GAURAV PRATAP SINGH
The seasoned Shamim Khan
of Delhi won a playoff at
the Digboi Golf Links for the
second year in succession as
he got the better of Noida’s
Gaurav Pratap Singh on the
third extra hole to retain the
IndianOil Servo Masters Golf
title.
The tournament had an increased prize
purse of Rs. 45 lakh this year.
Forty-year-old Shamim Khan (70-70-65-
74) pocketed his third title in Digboi which
also accounted for his overall 16th win after
he clinched a nail-biting contest against
34-year-old Gaurav Pratap Singh (72-68-
69-70) who took him into the playoff after
the two golfers were tied at the top at nine-
under-279 after the regulation 72 holes.
Shamim Khan began the ¿ nal day as title
favourite as he enjoyed a commanding
four-shot lead after round three. Khan,
the two-time and reigning PGTI Order of
Merit champion, however slipped on the
¿ nal day as his hitting and putting form
deserted him. Nonetheless, Shamim used
all his experience to hold on to his lead till
the end.
Winner Shamim Khan receives the cheque and trophy from Ms. Sukla Mistry, CGM IOCL (AOD) (3rd from
right), Mr. A J Saikia, GM ZO (2nd from left), Mr. N K Barua, GM IC T (4th from right) and Mr. U S Mundy, CEO,
PGTI (extreme left). Also seen in the picture are Mr. A K Tamuli, GM IC HR (2nd from right) and Mr. Biswajit
Hazarika, GM (M & C) and Golf Captain, Digboi (extreme right).
more experienced player always has the
advantage in a playoff. In a playoff one
also feels much less pressure if your ball
is even slightly closer to the pin than your
opponent’s. Both these factors worked in
my favour today.”
Chandigarh’s Harendra Gupta, who was
also four behind the lead in tied second
after round three, carded a 71 on day four
to ¿ nish third at eight-under-280.
Gaurav Pratap Singh, four off the lead in
tied second after day three, struggled in the
¿ rst half of his ¿ nal round but then made
a brave charge by stitching together ¿ ve
birdies and just one bogey on the last six
holes to stretch the match into a playoff.
In the playoff, the deadlock continued for
the ¿ rst two holes but on the decisive third
extra hole, Gaurav missed his par putt from
three feet while Shamim drained it from
two feet to emerge champion.
Shamim, who was seven shots off the
lead at the halfway stage, said, “I feel the
72
GolfPlus
Shamim Khan - Winner
DECEMBER
2018
Gaurav Pratap Singh - Runner-up