LAHORE – Shafiq Masih of Pakistan and Lahore Gymkhana Club captured the American Express Dirab Golf Championship title after playoff against Craig Smith of Wales in the third of six tournaments of the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) Golf Tour concluded at the Riyadh Golf Club Thursday. According to information made available here on Thursday, Shafiq overturned a three shots final round deficit to level with Craig Smith to achieve win in a playoff. What Shafiq Masih managed was heroic indeed as he dug deep into his knowledge of the golf course, a place where he had been teaching golf till a few years back, to match his tough rivals sizzling final round of gross 66. Shafiq contested bravely to manage good enough score to end up, level with Craig, thus forcing a play off. This win enabled him to wrap up a moment of glory for his country besides a lucrative purse of US$9,000. Shafiq said: "It feels great to win a tournament of this stature and makes me more jubilant because I used to give golf lessons to members here. No doubt I have won tournaments in Pakistan but this win is special and will continue winning for my country." Taimur Hassan of Pakistan Golf Federation, Brig (retd) Akram of Punjab Golf Association and former sportsmen like Shafqat Rana, Jehangir Aziz and many golfers lauded Shafiq's victory and hoped that he would continue to bring laurels to the country.