DIGBOI, Nov 13 � The final day of the IndianOil XtraPremium Masters 2010 turned out to be a memorable one for Shankar Das of Kolkata, who registered his breakthrough win on the Aircel PGTI after turning in a card of two under 70 at the Digboi Golf Links. Das totaled 16 under 272 for the tournament. Feroz Ali Mollah, who also hails from Kolkata, was the runner-up, having ended the week with a total of 13 under 275. He shot a belligerent bogey-free 66 in round four.
Shankar Das (70-65-67-70) capitalized on his overnight seven-stroke lead to capture his maiden professional title on Saturday. The reticent 27-year-old did not sit back on his huge lead but instead looked for birdies from the very outset.
Shankar�s aggressive approach earned him birdies on the third, fourth, seventh and ninth that in turn helped him expand his lead to eight strokes at the turn. Das� nearest rival Feroz Ali Mollah had notched up three birdies on the front nine in the meantime.
Shankar�s birdie on the third came as a result of a nine feet putt that he sank from the edge of the green. A magnificent seven-iron shot from 180 yards that landed three feet from the pin fetched him a birdie on the fourth. Das missed a 15 footer for eagle on the seventh but managed to salvage a birdie on that hole. A good chip led to a birdie on the ninth.
Shankar made a critical par save on the 17th thanks to a brilliant chip-putt and all but sealed the title.
