Shamim Khan coasts to three-shot win at Kensville Open 2019

By Rahul Banerji

Shamim Khan made it a wire to wire effort at the Rs 40 lakh Kensville Open 2019, easing to a three-shot win at the Kensville Golf & Country Club near Ahmedabad on Sunday.

The experienced Delhi golfer, overnight leader by two shots, posted a tenacious 2-under pr 70 in the final round to emerge champion with a total of 13-under 275 for his 15^th victory on the Tata Steel PGTI and his 17^th professional title overall.

Pune-based Udayan Mane, the only one besides Shamim to return four sub-par rounds, came up with a last round of 71 to secure the runner-up spot on 10-under-278.

Shamim (66-68-71-70), who held the lead right the way through, enjoyed his best day with the putter with five birdies against three bogeys. The 41-year-old stretched his lead to three shots at the turn having made two 20-foot birdie conversions on the front nine.

Degree of comfort

Khan dropped two shots on the back nine after finding a tree on one hole and a hazard on the other, but he still managed to close out the match with two birdies as the rest of the field was unable to capitalise.

Shamim’s first title after a year’s gap earned him Rs. 6,46,600 which carried him from 30^th place to 14^th  in the Tata Steel PGTI Order of Merit.

The smooth-swinging Khan said later, “I putted the best today as compared to the last three rounds and that set up my win. I also recovered well from tough positions on a couple of holes to make good bogeys.

“I knew I had it in the bag after I birdied the 14^th and Udayan bogeyed the 15^th. At that stage my lead was four shots with three holes left to play. I knew I could play safe from there and win.

“This win really raises my confidence as it was achieved with a double-digit total score on a difficult course. In fact, only two players, Udayan and me, had a double-digit total this week. That reflects the tough scoring conditions at Kensville.  

Renewed confidence

“I wasn’t having a great season until I arrived in Ahmedabad. But I feel that I can now carry this form into the last three events of the season,” added Shamim, the only man with career earnings in excess of Rs. 4 crore on the PGTI.

Mane (69-67-71-71), two off the lead after round three, had a round that included three birdies and two bogeys. He dropped a shot early but a late surge seemed to bring him back into contention with three birdies in four holes.

But missing the fairway with his drive on the 15^th put paid to Mane’s hopes as he bogeyed that hole to concede an almost unassailable lead to Shamim.

The 28-year-old Udayan, said, “My opening hole bogey and Shamim’s two early birdies gave him the advantage.

“Shamim then matched me birdie for birdie so I didn’t really have too many opportunities. Nonetheless, I’m happy with the overall quality of my game this week.” 

Chandigarh’s Abhijit Singh Chadha shot the day’s joint lowest round of 68 to finish tied third on 6-under-282 along with Om Prakash Chouhan (71) of Mhow.

Veer Ahlawat, a winner on the PGTI last week, took a share of fifth place along with Kolkata’s Sunit Chowrasia on 5-under-283.

Defending champion Tapy Ghai of Gurgaon was T29 on 3 -over-291.

Also read: Veer Ahlawat battles his way to maiden PGTI title in Digboi