February 18, 2002	Monday	Zilhaj 5, 1422

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KARACHI, Feb 17: Caddy-turned-professional Mutloob Ahmad held his nerve to beat qualifier Shakeel Rehmati in the first sudden- death hole, to annex the Nike-Standard Chartered 34th Golf Championship of Pakistan at the Arabian Sea Country Club Sunday.

After both the golfers finished at six-under 282, Mutloob sunk the two-footer for par at the 10th while Shakeel narrowly missed the par-putt to end the 24-year-old’s long run without a win.

“It was like getting stabbed in the heart,” Shakeel summoned up his emotions.

Shakeel had every reason to feel heart-broken. The man from Quetta shot an excellent four-under 68, including four successive birdies on the back-nine, before walking on the second most difficult 18th. A poor tee-shot led him to bogey the hole.

On the contrary, Mutloob, playing in the last flight, trailed by one with two holes remaining. He birdied the treacherous 179- yard par-three and then saved his par on the 18th for his round of 71 to take the proceedings into playoff for the second successive year.

“I needed a stroke of luck. In the end, I think I got more than what I expected. Frankly speaking, it was a tough day on which I struggled throughout,” Mutloob said.

He consoled Shakeel saying: “He played excellently. He had two bad last holes and they made all the difference.”

Mutloob, who led on all the three days, was virtually overshadowed by Shakeel who started the final day three strokes behind.

Shakeel made a sensational start when he birdied three of the first four holes before dropping shots on the par-three fifth and par-four eighth.

On the back-nine, Shakeel launched his charge after four par holes to birdie the 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th only to stumble on the 18th.

Mutloob had a lacklustre final day. He had birdies on the third, fourth, 12th and 17th, but surrendered strokes on the second, eighth and 15th.

For Mutloob, it was just a matter of time when he would win the major championship after being born in the middle of a golf course. His father took his dwellings in Lahore that was a stone’s throw distance away from the course and the lad virtually grew up watching a putting green from his roof top.

Mutloob remained a caddy for nearly 15 years before turning professional four years ago. He caddied for former Test batsman Agha Zahid at the Lahore Golf Course.

“I am confident that after this victory, I will become the top ranked golfer in the country. But I also want to play in APGA circuit. That will only come about if I get the required support from the organisation and sponsors,” he said.

Defending champion Taimur Hussain failed to live upto his reputation when he carded two-over 74 for 288 in the tournament. He finished joint fourth with Shafiq Masih who had a final round of three-over 75 after three successive 71s.

Sixth ranked Mohammad Munir, who began a stroke behind Mutloob, collapsed on the back-nine after an uneventful front- nine. Munir bogeyed three of the last five holes to card 75 for one-under 287 and sole possession of third place.

Mohammad Shabbir Iqbal, whose top ranking is under threat from Mutloob, was one of the four golfers who broke par but his efforts were no enough as he finished sixth at one-over 289.

Promising 20-year-old Vaqas Ahmad won the amateur category with one-over 289, after his final round of four-over 76. Shahid Javed Khan finished second, seven strokes behind at 296, while Ghazanfar Mahmood was another one stroke behind. Dr Aimal Zaman finished joint sixth at 303 with Tariq Mahmood.

In the senior professionals, Mohammad Shafiq triumphed after rounds of 75 and 72. Abdul Majid from UAE was second.

Final round scores:

282 - Mutloob Ahmad 68 71 72 71, Shakeel Rehmati 73 72 69 68

287 - Mohammad Munir 71 71 70 75

288 - Shafiq Masih 71 71 71 75, Taimur Hussain 76 67 71 74

289 - Mohammad Shabbir Iqbal 77 69 72 71

296 - Amjad Yousuf 70 74 76 76

297 - Mohammad Tahir Nasim 73 73 75 76

298 - Abbas Ali 71 76 78 73

300 - Imdad Hussain 79 72 74 75, Mahmood Kiani 81 70 75 74, Mohammad Akram 76 77 74 73, Abdul Hameed 76 77 76 71

301 - Ghulam Nabi 78 73 72 78, Mohammad Sajid 76 73 76 76, Talib Hussain 75 75 76 75, Javed Inayat 73 78 75 75, Karam Hussain 80 71 75 75, Sajjad Khan 79 74 73 75, Waheed Baloch 74 75 78 74

302 - Mohammad Tariq 77 75 76 74

303 - Asghar Ali 74 76 73 80, Manzoor Ahmed 74 75 78 76

304 - Iqbal Bashir 77 75 75 77

305 - Nisar Hussain 78 72 75 80, Mohammad Siddique 77 76 76 76, Akhtar Ali 79 77 73 76

306 - Shahid Haleem 76 78 72 80

307 - Arshad Ali 74 78 77 78

310 - Ahmad Zahir 75 75 79 81.