Matloob Ahmed beats national golfer Muhammad Shabbir to win Bank AL Habib's 8thRashid D. Habib Memorial National Professional Golf Championship with 274 - 14 under. He takes Rs 630,329 as prize money. The final round of Rs 7.2 million prize money golf tournament played on Sunday at Karachi Golf Club.
Ansar Mahmood of Pakistan Navy and National as well as defending champion Muhammad Shabbir were the runner ups with 276 -12 under. They bagged Rs 324,651 each. Third position went to Hamza Amin who took Rs 202,380 as prize money. The top five golfers in Pakistan Muhammad Ashfaq, Waheed Baloch, Matloob Ahmed, Muhamamd Munir and Muhammad Shabbir were also paid appearance money of Rs 100,000 each. Appearance money of Rs 150,000 was also equally distributed to top three senior professionals; Mehmood Kiyani, Muhammad Akram and Imdad Hussain.
Imdad Hussaintook first position in the Senior Professional Category and bagged prize money of Rs 131,670. Second position went to Muhammad Akram with prize money of Rs 82,294, while third position went to Iftikhar Ahmed who bagged Rs 61,916.
In the KGC Professionals category Ayaz Gul took the lead and bagged Rs 81,000 as prize money. Taj Nabi of KPT, Shehzad Yousufand Shakir Ali followed him on second positions. Their prize was Rs 51,450 each. Nabeel Khan won the KGC Caddies category and won Rs 82,350. M. Nawaz was runner up with Rs 66,600 and Kalfort Jan hold third position and got Rs 49,950.
Latif Khaskheli was the lucky winner in KGC Senior Professionals category and was paid Rs 19,000. His follower Syed Jamal Badshah stood 2nd position and was paid Rs 15,000. Young Professionals category saw Asad Khan of PAF in first position and Kashif Masih as runner up. Their prize money was Rs 42,750 and 33,750 respectively.
The 1300 cc car kept for hole in one winner remained unclaimed. Chief Guest of the ceremony Commander Karachi Vice Admiral Asif Khaliq HI-M, Pakistan Navy encouraged the efforts of Bank AL Habib for holding such a wonderful Golf event and congratulated the winners. Speaking at the prize ceremony Bank AL Habib's Managing Director Abbas D Habib said, "Allah has blessed us with the capacity to deliver this golf tournament and we are thankful to him."
"We are talking with Pakistan Golf Federation and looking forward to sponsor training of three 12 to 14 years old golfers for international levels." Replying to media queries, Matloob Ahmed said that Bank AL Habib's Golf Tournament is contributing towards the growth of golf in Pakistan.