Kolkata,
Continuing his dream run, Shubhankar Sharma rallied to snatch the McLeod Russel Tour Championship title here today, signing off the season with three wins.

The 21-year-old from Chandigarh, who recently became the youngest Indian to win on the European Tour, prevailed over Delhi’s Rashid Khan by one shot in a thrilling finish at PGTI’s Rs 1.5 crore season-ender at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club.

Trailing by two shots till the 14th hole, Sharma turned it around in the final stages to end up with a round of 68 and a winning total of 17-under 271. He took home his sixth professional trophy and the winner’s cheque of Rs 22,50,000.

Khan, who led for the last two days, shot a 71 to finish with a total of 16-under.

Shamim tops Order of Merit

Delhi’s Shamim Khan bagged his second PGTI Order of Merit title after finishing tied 4th at 8-under.

Shamim, who had earlier won the title in 2012, closed the 2017 season with earnings of Rs 51,64,233 to finish No. 1 in the money list by a fair distance. He won three titles in the season.

Ahmedabad’s Udayan Mane, who also bagged three titles in the season, finished second on the money list with season’s earnings of Rs 43,14,251. He finished tied 18th with a total of 2-under for the week.

Kolkata’s Viraj Madappa, 20, won the PGTI Emerging Player of the Year title with season’s earnings of Rs 23,49,641. Karandeep Kochhar finished a distant second on the list with earnings of Rs 9,71,633.

Sharma-Khan contest
Sharma (66-70-67-68) began the day two shots behind Khan but caught up with the 26-year-old on the eighth hole thanks to three birdies, which included two tap-ins.

Khan then produced some magic by holing out from 150 yards for an eagle on the par-4 ninth to regain his two-shot lead.

Khan, a two-time Asian Tour winner, was two ahead after the 14th and looking good for his 10th title.

But Sharma clawed his way back with an excellent bunker shot on the 15th that led to a birdie.

Khan found the water on the 15th and the hole witnessed a two-shot swing in favour of Sharma, bringing him back on an even keel.

Both the players raised the intensity of the contest by making birdies on the next hole. However, the 17th proved to be decisive as Khan’s poor chip shot resulted in a bogey and saw him fall back by one shot.

Sharma held his nerves to hole a tricky 10-feet par putt on the last hole and clinch his second PGTI title of the season, and also his second professional title at the RCGC.

In the process, Sharma equalled the lowest winning score at the McLeod Russel Tour Championship, earlier posted by Anirban Lahiri during his 2013 triumph.

Kolkata’s Rahil Gangjee (71) finished third at 9-under. Shamim, Madappa, Bangladesh’s Mohammad Siddikur Rahman and Gurgaon-based Manu Gandas finished tied 4th at 8-under.

Ajeetesh Sandhu finished 9th at 6-under, ending the season at 12th in the Order of Merit list with earnings of Rs 21,79,970. Local favourite and former champion SSP Chawrasia finished tied 10th at 5-under.