Shafiq Masih of Lahore Gymkhana managed to assert his authority and return victorious at the conclusion of the third round of the 1st Quaid Open Golf Championship, an event sponsored by Shezan International, at the historic Lahore Gymkhana Golf Course. The final round was packed with incidents and emotion as the tussle for supremacy became a match play duel between the ultimate winner Shafiq Masih and Matloob Ahmed, the seasoned one and the overnight leader. Shafiq and Matloob played immaculate golf on the first nine holes and the advantage remained in favour of Matloob. Going into the back nine, Shafiq started to look assertive and through magnificent play on holes 10 and 11 Shafiq eliminated the deficit through two consecutive birdies and for the first time gained a one-stroke advantage. And from thereon Shafiq never let go and with unruffled temperament finished the final moments as a successful one leaving Matloob shocked and dismayed. It was a great performance by Shafiq and will be an inspiration one in his golf career.
For the other aspirants the final day brought its usual upsets and they had to be content with positions other than the first and second. The top ten positions in Professional section were achieved by Shafiq Masih (Gym), Matloob Ahmed (Garrison), Amjad Yousaf (Karachi), Mohammed Munir (Islamabad), Shahid Javed Khan (Royal Palm), Mohammad Siddique (Faisalabad), Waheed Baloch (Karachi), Mohammad Zubair(ISD), Mohammad Safdar (Gujranwala), Mohammad Tariq (ISD), Nisar Hussain(ISD), and Adil Jehangir (Gymkhana). A total prize money of Rs one million was distributed amongst the top 40 professionals.
Results of other events are: Ladies; 2nd net Tehmina Rashid; 1st net; Kara Alam; 2nd gross; Ami Qin; 1st Gross Mrs Ghazala Yasmeem, Veterans 2nd Net Mr. Javed A Zia; 1st Net Col Shamsdin Goraya; 2nd Gross Capt Asim Durrain; 1s Gross Maj UD Najmi; Seniors 2nd Net Omer Farooq; 1st Net A Wajid Sethi; 2nd Gross Javed A Khan; 1st Gross AVM Zakaullah; Amateurs; 3rd Net Usman Cheema; 2nd Net Ahmad Nawaz Tiwana; 1st Net Dr. Dildar Hussain; 3rd Gross Maj Khushal Khan; 2nd Gross Mohammad Rehman; 1st Gross Ali Wazir.
At the conclusion of the championship, the prizes were awarded to the top performers by Mohammed Khalid, Chief Executive of Shezan International in a grand prize distribution ceremony attended by Mian Misbaur Rehman, Chairman, Pervaiz Masood, Ziaurrehman, Zia Rizvi, Khawaja Imran Zubair, Amir Mehmood and a large number of golfers.
