Ashfaq topples Shabbir on last hole to win CNS Open

KARACHI: In a dramatic finish, local golfer Mohammad Ashfaq came from behind on the last hole to beat Pakistan No 1 Shabbir Iqbal by one shot to lay his hands on the UMA 22nd Chief of the Naval Staff Open Golf Championship trophy at the Karachi Golf Club on Sunday.

Ashfaq, who started the fourth round two shots behind the overnight leader Shabbir, scored three successive birdies on the last three holes to post an incredible victory.

The eventual champion carded four under 68 in the last round to return with a 72-hole aggregate of 276, 12 under par, denying Shabbir to regain the title and complete a hat-trick of triumphs having won the preceding Sindh Open and the Independence Day Open in the city.

Shabbir, who was leading by a shot until the 17th hole, bogeyed the last while Ashfaq capitalized by scoring a birdie to lift his maiden CNS Open title.

The nine-time former champion posted one under 71 in the last round to return with scores of 277, 11 under par.

Commonly known as Rusi, Ashfaq was hugged and kissed by the fellow golfers who also lifted him on their shoulders upon his return from the course.

The golfing fraternity also described Ashfaq’s triumph as ‘good omen for the game’.

“I’d won Swat Open, Bolan Open and Hyderabad Open in the past but the CNS Open success has lifted my stature,” the 27-year-old Ashfaq, who has learnt his basics of the game at the KGC, told Dawn.

His sibling Sajjad also featured in the pros but was unable to make the cut.

“Things were going smoothly but a blunder at the last hole made the difference,” a dejected Shabbir told Dawn.

Though he went to the stage once to receive the runner-up purse and trophy, but stayed away from the group photograph of all the prize winners with the CNS.

Defending champion Matloob Ahmed had to be content with third position at 281, seven under par.

Meanwhile, Ahmed Baig emerged new amateurs champion dethroning holder Mohammad Sharif.

Baig of Lahore Garrison surged to the top carding two under 70 in the final round to muster total of nine over 297 to win by two shots over Sharif, who finished at 11 over 299.

A beaming Ashfaq received the glittering trophy and the winning purse of Rs727,000 from Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Mohammad Zakaullah amidst applause.

The CNS also awarded the keys of Toyota Fortuner to Vivek Anand of the DHA, who shot Hole-in-One on day one. Anand, 18, an A-Levels student at a local college, was accompanied by his father Gian Chand, mother and five elder sisters.

The ceremony was attended among others by Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff Vice-Admiral Arifullah Hussaini, Commander Karachi Rear Admiral Ather Mukhtar, CO Bahadur Cdre Saqib Jamil Khattak, COO KGC retired Cdre Ghazanfar Abbas, retired Lt Gen Moinuddin Haider, chief executive United Marine Agencies Sohail Shams, Saleem Godil, secretary of the Pakistan Golf Federation, retired Brig Nayyar Afzal and president of the Sindh Golf Association (SGA) Asad I. A. Khan.

Top finishers:

Professionals:

276 — Mohammad Ashfaq (Airmen Golf Club) 72, 70, 66, 68.

277 — Shabbir Iqbal (Islamabad) 72, 64, 70, 71.

281 — Matloob Ahmed (LGC) 68, 73, 69, 71.

285 — Hamza Amin (Islamabad) 76, 73, 67, 69; Mohammad Munir (Islamabad) 70, 74, 71, 70.

287 — Waheed Baloch (KGC) 73, 68, 73, 73.

Amateurs Gross:

Winner: 297 — Ahmed Baig (LGC) 75, 76, 76, 70.

Runner-up: 299 — Mohammad Sharif (West Wind Golf Club) 74, 74, 72, 79.

Amateurs Net:

Winner: 286 — Capt Mohammad Imran Rana (KGC) 75, 72, 70, 69.