Pakistan’s star golfer star Muhammad Shabbir lived upto his billing when he grabbed the AKD 41st Pakistan Open Golf Championship crown with a clear cut three stroke lead over his main challenger Matloob Ahmed on Sunday.

Bearded Shabbir was not at his brilliant best but remained consistent  throughout to end in a blaze of glory by playing par-72 fourth and final round to end with an aggregate of 282 at Defence Authority Golf and Country Club.

“To be frank I was not fully fit and was playing with lower back problem  which hindered my performance. But I am definitely very happy to maintain my topstanding in Pakistan,” beaming Shabbir Iqbal commented.
“Before the event my practice level was not very high because of the  back problem but thanks Allah I won this prestigious event as well,” he added.

Representing Navy and Islamabad Golf Club, Shabbir played the rounds of  69, 70, 71 and 72 to lead the field.
Highly talented and Shabbir’s main challenger, Matloob Ahmed of Garrison Golf Club Lahore played the final round of one-under-par 71 but still ended three stroke behind with total of 285.
“It was a good, tough and exciting contest. But Shabbir Iqbal won because of his consistency despite felling in the score in each round,” Matloon commented.
Shabbir’s team-mate in the World Cup Golf in China, Muhammad Munir andMuhammad Afsar ended joint third mainly because of Munir’s poor third round inwhich he played five-under-par 77. He ended the fourth and final round with one-over-par 73 to finish with 291.
In the amateur category Muhammad Ali Hai of Karachi Golf Club came from  behind emerged as the best amateur beating the seasoned Waseem Rana of DHA GolfClub by a stroke.
Ali Hai had a four days aggregate of 306 as against Waseem Rana’s 307, followed by Anser Mehmood(Karachi) 311,Robin Bagh (Sargodah)314, Muhammad Rehman(Royal Palm)317,Taimur Hassan Amin (Islamabad) 318,Saajid Khan (ASCC) 318 andGhazanfar Mehmood (Rawalpindi)320.
The senior professionals showed their mettle and after two competitive rounds Asgher Ali (Punjab Police) captured the top positon in this category with rounds of 72 and 77 and an aggregate of 149, seven strokes better than the runners up Ghani Khan of Karachi Golf Club. Muhammed Shafiq of Railways came third with a score of 157,followed by Akbar Ali (Gymkhana)157,and Ghulam Nabi(Gymkhana)158.
At the presentation ceremony Lt Gen Zaheer ul Islam,Corps Commander,Karachi distributed the prizes. Chairman AKD Group Aqeel Karim Dhedhi, Brig. Hassan Rafi of DHA Golf Club and Secretary Pakistan Golf Federation Taimur Hassan  were also present on the occasion.
Shabbir Iqbal collected a glittering trophy and cash purse of Rs.430,000.
The top positions in Pros:
282 (69+70+71+72) Shabbir Iqbal (Navy/ISB)
285 (69+70+71+72) Matloob Ahmed (Garrison,Lahore)
291 (71+72+71+71)  Afsar Ali (Star Com)
291 (73+73+72+73) Muhammad Munir (Islamabad)
291 (70+71+77+73 Javed Inayat (HBL)
293 (79+68+71+75) Shafiq Masih (Gymkhana)
294 (73+75+76+70) Anser Mehmood(Islamabad)
297 (72+78+74+73) Waheed Baloch (KGC)
297 (75+76+73+73) Adil Jehangir (Gymkhana)
298 (76+72+68+82) Hamza Amin(ISB)