Matloob Ahmed of Garrison Golf Club delivered a commanding performance to win the 12th J.A. Zaman Memorial Golf Championship, claiming his third title in emphatic fashion on the final day, 24NewsHD TV reported on Sunday.
Tied with long-time rival M Shabbir at the start of the day, Matloob quickly took control, carding an early birdie on the second hole and maintaining momentum through the front nine with another birdie on the sixth.
Shabbir struggled with uncharacteristic errors, including bogeys that allowed Matloob to seize a decisive advantage.
The turning point came on the seventh hole.
After Shabbir’s tee shot drifted left, forcing a conservative play into the fairway, Matloob executed a precise approach to within feet of the pin.
Under pressure, Shabbir faltered, pulling his approach into the greenside bunker and eventually carding a bogey. Matloob calmly converted his eagle putt, resulting in a decisive three-shot swing that shifted the momentum firmly in his favor.
From that point onward, Matloob played with confidence and composure, steadily extending his lead as Shabbir was unable to recover. Finishing with an impressive tournament score of -18, Matloob secured a resounding victory and his third J.A. Zaman Memorial title.
Minhaj claimed third place with a solid final round of 3-under par, finishing at -4 overall. While not at his peak throughout the tournament, his late surge earned him a podium finish. Other notable performances included Talat Ijaz at -3 and Alam at -2 for the championship.
In the senior professionals category, Tariq continued his dominance, capturing his fourth consecutive title.
The junior professional's title was awarded to Ashass from Karachi, who finished with a total score of +3.
Marking a significant milestone for the tournament, the ladies' professionals category was introduced this year and won by Zehbunissa.
The 2026 edition of the championship witnessed record participation, with over 600 golfers from across Pakistan, making it the largest golf tournament in the country in terms of player turnout.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Chief Patron Mr. Hamid Zaman expressed gratitude to the Zaman family for their unwavering support in promoting the game of golf in memory of their father.
He paid tribute to the late Mr. J.A. Zaman, describing him as an avid golf enthusiast and a man of remarkable character.
The continued success of the championship in his honor stands as a testament to his legacy and contribution to the sport in Pakistan.