LAHORE - Muhammad Alam of Lahore Garrison Golf Club emerged as the surprise champion, delivering a sensational final round to claim the title at the 3rd President PGA Professional Golf Championship, held at the pristine Defence Raya Golf Course, Lahore. Alam, who wasn’t even in the final flight due to earlier setbacks, stunned the field with a brilliant six-under-par 66 on the final day, bringing his three-day aggregate to 211 and sealing an unforgettable victory. Starting the tournament with scores of 71 and 74 on the first two days, Alam seemed an unlikely contender for the crown. The spotlight was on more established names like Ahmed Baig, Muhammad Munir, and Muhammad Zubair, each part of the final flight and expected to battle it out for the title. But Alam had other plans. Displaying poise, precision, and an extraordinary all-round game, he produced a masterclass on the final day, outplaying the favourites and claiming top honours with flair.
Ahmed Baig and Muhammad Munir, both top contenders, settled for joint second place. Baig carded rounds of 72, 68, and 74, while Munir posted scores of 69, 72, and 74, both finishing just behind Alam. Third place was secured by Ashiq Hussain of Multan, who ended with a score of 219, followed by Muhammad Shahzad of Lahore Garrison Golf Club in fifth position with a score of 220.
Notable performances also came from Kashif Masih, Mudassir Iqbal, and Shahid Pervaiz of Quetta Golf Club, each finishing with identical scores of 223. Among others who impressed were seasoned professionals Matloob Ahmed of Lahore Garrison and M. Naqas of Margalla Greens.
In the Senior Professionals category, Defence Raya’s own Muhammad Naseer claimed top spot with a score of 147. Sharing second position were Tahir Naseem of Lahore Gymkhana and Muhammad Tariq of Islamabad, both posting 149. Muhammad Javed of Lahore Gymkhana rounded off the top three with a score of 154.
The Junior Professionals competition saw young Muhammad Sahil of Peshawar Golf Club rise to the top with a fine score of 146. He was followed by Muhammad Ashaas of Islamabad in second with 151, and Rehan Babar of Lahore Garrison in third, just one stroke behind at 152.
The championship concluded with a graceful prize distribution ceremony, where Lt Gen Abdul Aziz, President of Punjab Golf Association, awarded trophies and accolades to the outstanding performers.
