Wasim Khan (fourth from left) receives the winner’s cheque and trophy from event presenting partner R.S. Gill (third from left). Ranjitgarh Golf Club secretary Paramjit Singh Pannu (far left) and tour CEO Amandeep Johl. Image courtesy PGTI.
By Rahul Banerji
Wasim Khan won his maiden title at the PGTI NexGen Phillaur Open presented by R.S. Gill, with a closing 4 under par 67 and an event total of 10 under 203 at the Ranjitgarh Golf Club on Thursday.
The Delhi golfer was two shots up the road from Lucknow’s Rajesh Kumar Gautam (68) and Chandimandir’s Chandarjeet Yadav (69) who finished on under 205s, the PGTI said.
Overnight leader Kurush Heerjee (71) of Jamshedpur ended the week in tied fourth place on 7 under 206 along with Chandigarh’s Brashwarpal Singh (69).
Tied for third overnight a shot behind the lead, 34-four-year-old Khan (67-69-67) mixed seven birdies with a bogey and a double in his 67 on Thursday.
Khan’s iron-play was the highlight of his round as he landed within three feet of the flag to set up three of his birdies. He was also consistent with the putter, getting a further three birdies from between 10 and 12 feet.
Errant tee shots on 15 and 16 saw Wasim drop three strokes on that stretch. However, he closed out well with a birdie on 17 and a crucial par on 18.
On the move
Khan picked up a cheque worth Rs 2,54,300 to climb from 11th to second in the 2025 PGTI NexGen Order of Merit and his earnings for the season are now Rs 3,54,600.
Gautam, winner in Gurgaon and runner-up at Phillaur, tops the Order of Merit with season’s earnings of Rs 4,29,600.
“I’m delighted to register my first professional win. I came close earlier as I had two runner-up finishes on the PGTI Feeder Tour in 2019. I’m glad that I could close out the win this time around,” Khan said later.
“My game has been in good shape since last week’s event in Kapurthala.
“So I decided to continue with the same game plan this week and play percentage golf by trying to hit maximum fairways and greens. The advice from my mentor and senior professional Shamim Khan helped a great deal.”
Also read: Heerjee, Manjot share round two lead at NexGen Phillaur Open
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