Himmat Singh Rai came home the winner at the DLF MASTERS 2011 after firing a sedate even par 72 in the final round. The 24-year-old totaled four under 284 for the tournament to lift his third professional trophy (second on the Aircel PGTI). Rashid Khan shot the day’s best score, a four under 68, to secure second place at three under 285.

Himmat Singh Rai (72-69-71-72), the only player in the field to have not shot a single over par round during the tournament, made three birdies and three bogeys in the fourth round. Rai, playing at his home course, dropped a bogey on the second hole but negated that with some brilliant hitting to earn a birdie on the sixth. The Delhi-based golfer trailed the leader Anirban Lahiri by three strokes at that stage. However, the lead soon changed hands as Himmat birdied the ninth with a 25 feet putt while Anirban dropped four strokes on the ninth, 10th and 11th.

Himmat’s bogey on the 13th was followed by a birdie on the 14th even as he stayed two shots ahead of the rest of the field. Rai, an Asian Tour winner this year, had a scare towards the end of the round as he dropped a bogey on the 17th after his approach shot was off the mark. He was just one stroke ahead at that stage. Nonetheless, he went on to seal his first DLF Masters crown with a par on the 18th.

Himmat took home a cheque worth Rs. 1,535,675 for his win and thus climbed from 17th place to first position on the Rolex Rankings. He now has earnings of Rs. 2,231,175 for the 2011 Aircel PGTI season.

Rashid Khan (74-72-71-68) of Delhi fired an eagle, four birdies and two bogeys to shoot the only under par score of the final round that helped him end the tournament in second position, one stroke behind the winner.

Sanjay Kumar (72-69-72-73) was third at two under 286 while Gaurav Pratap Singh (75-74-66-72) and Anirban Lahiri (68-68-74-77) were joint fourth at one under 287.