Shabbir Iqbal retains JA Zaman Open Golf Championship

Pakistan’s number one won once again in a nail-biter of a sudden death play-off

KARACHI: Pakistan’s number one golfer Shabbir Iqbal of the Islamabad Golf Club retained the 4th JA Zaman Open Golf Championship at the Lahore Gymkhana Golf Course by hitting an aggregate score of seven-under-par.

Iqbal was challenged by Matloob Qureshi of the Lahore Garrison Club and Mohammad Munir of Islamabad Golf Club, who put up a determined fight and succeeded in levelling the score at the conclusion of the 54 holes, taking the game into sudden-death.

Iqbal’s class showed in the high pressure situation though, as he emerged victorious.

“It feels great when you win a competition after such an exciting play-off where all three top golfers did all they could to win the title,” Iqbal told The Express Tribune. “Winning a title like this doubles the celebration.”

Iqbal added that he is hoping to see some more good talent emerge in the upcoming years to take his place as the top golfer of the country.

Meanwhile, Wapda’s Mohammad Akram won the seniors title and Minhaj Maqsood finished as first among junior professionals. Ghazanfar Mehmood of Bahria Golf Club was declared the winner in the amateur event with a three-round aggregate of 223.

Senior amateur winners were Javed Khan (gross) and Brig Tahir Saleem (net), while in the ladies event were won by Zahida Durrani (gross) and Sameea Javaid Ali (net).