Arjun Singh wins SRF Matchplay, ends three-year title drought

Arjun Singh won his first professional title ending his three-year title drought when he secured a 2 & 1 win against Shamim Khan in the pulsating final of the SRF All India Professional Golf Matchplay Championship, a Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) event played at the Delhi Golf Club here on Saturday.

Ali Sher defeated Lam Chih Bing with a score of 4 & 3 in the playoff to clinch the third place.

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Arjun Singh and Shamim Khan were involved in an engrossing battle in the challenging Matchplay format on their home turf, the Delhi Golf Club. Arjun Singh’s 12th professional career title made him richer by Rs. 520,000

Arjun started well with wins on the first and third holes. Shamim soon came back by securing the fourth, fifth and 10th holes. From thereon on it was a see-saw battle as Arjun won the 12th, 14th, 15th and 17th and Shamim wrapped up the 13th and 16th. At the end of the first 18 holes Arjun Singh was 1 up.

On the second 18, Arjun extended his lead to 4 up by winning the first, third and sixth holes. Shamim bounced back and reduced Arjun’s lead to 1 up by winning the seventh, 13th and 14th. Arjun finally won when he made a birdie on the 17th and Shamim made par.

“I’m delighted with this victory. It’s my first professional win after the 2005 Hero Honda Western India in Pune. This win also makes up for my last hole debacle at The Global Green Bangalore Open in December where I finished second,” said contented Arjun after winning the championship.

“I take a lot of positives from here. Last year I had worked with Claude Harmon (Gaurav Ghei’s coach) on shortening my swing. All that hard work is now paying off,” Arjun added.

With this win, Arjun Singh has now climbed to fifth position from 11th on the PGTI Order of Merit for 2007-08. He now has one win and two top 10 finishes out of four starts on the current PGTI season.

Shamim Khan has also had some very good finishes this season but a victory eluded him after being in good touch in the event. Shamim Khan is currently fourth on the PGTI Order of Merit with five top 10 finishes out of six starts.

“My hitting was not good even though I putted really well and made some good chip-putts. I had five birdies in all during the final,” said the runners-up. Shamim adding, “I now need to work on my temperament and swing.”

In the playoff for third place Ali Sher prevailed over Singapore’s Lam Chih Bing 4 & 3. Ali Sher won the third, fifth, seventh, ninth, 10th and 15th holes while Lam Chih Bing could only secure the eighth and 13th holes.

“I’ve played really well throughout this tournament but have been a little short of confidence as far as my putting is concerned. I need to work on my short game,” said Ali Sher.