LAHORE, March 20: Shafique Masih (Gymkhana/Harvester) finally annexed his career’s first title winning the 8th Faysal Bank golf championship by beating Mohammad Munir (Islamabad) on playoff at Lahore Gymkhana course on Sunday. Shafique who started off the day with a lead of three strokes over Munir, played sluggishly as he lost the advantage after increasing it to four strokes by the close of 10th hole.

Munir who gradually improved the game, had staged a comeback and was only a stroke behind Shafique at the 17th hole.

Shafique, also the second day leader, could have won had he completed the 18th hole at par.

But he lost a stroke while Munir did it at par to be tied at 208 each.

In the playoff held on par-4 hole No 1, Shafique stamped his supremacy completing it with a vital birdie while Munir did it at par.

Earlier, Shafique entered a card of 73, carrying only three birdies at the 4th, 11th and the 14th holes but four bogeys

at the 1st, 10th, 13th and the 18th.

“I am happy over my first achievement in golf though it is somewhat belated. It gave me inspiration to do better in the future,” Shafique said.

He received a cash prize of Rs41,000 and the trophy.

Munir, the first day leader, played excellent golf to post a fine card of two-under-70 with five birdies at the 2nd, 8th, 11th, 14th and the 15th.

He had three bogeys at the 5th, 6th and the 16th. He pocketed Rs28,000.

One stroke behind, Matloob Ahmed (Gymkhana), who also posted an under-par-card of 71 came third.

Results:

Professionals:

208-Shafique Masih (Gymkhana) 67,68,73.

208-Mohammad Munir (Islamabad) 66,72,70.

209-Matloob Ahmed (Gymkhana) 68,70,71.

211-Shabbir Iqbal (Islamabad) 70,73,68.

212-Muhammad Sajid (Rawalpindi) 71,71,70; Imdad Hussain (Garrison) 71,69,72; Anser Mehmood (Islamabad) 69,70,73.

215-Muhammad Nazir (Islamabad) 73, 72,70; Muhammad Tariq (PTCL) 70,74,71; Abbas Ali (Gymkhana) 72,69,74; Lateef Masih (Gymkhana) 72,69,74.

216-Muhammad Siddique (Faisalabad) 74,74,68; Akhtar Ali (Gymkhana) 76, 71,69.

217-Talib Hussain (Islamabad) 77,71,69.

Amateurs:

227-Danyal Jehangir (Gymkhana) 77,75,75; M Safdar (Gujranwala) 76, 74, 77.

228-Shafique Bhatti (Gymkhana) 76, 73,79.

231- Bilal-ur-Rehman (Slt) 80,76,75.