Calcutta: There was very little show of emotion on Shamim Khan's face as he cantered to the Kolkata Classic Golf Championship title by five strokes at the RCGC on Friday. It seemed he was destined to win the title and he did it in style.

Coming into the final day with a three-shot overnight lead, he just had to keep the errors out. And he did exactly that.

The Delhi golfer ended the Rs 40 lakh event with a total score of 10-under 278 to bag his 13th professional title and first at the Royal. With a winner's cheque of Rs 6 lakh, Shamim climbed from fourth to first in the PGTI Order of Merit.

Reigning Indian Open champion SSP Chowrasia finished runner-up at five-under 283 after a final round of two-under-70. He took home Rs 4 lakh.

Another Calcuttan Shankar Das (72) claimed the third place at four-under 284.

There was a marked difference in Shamim's (70-68-68-72) ball-striking on Friday. He went from hitting six out of 16 fairways in Round III to 10 out of 16 in the final round. This massive improvement in his tee shots helped him coast to victory without much trouble in the final round.

The 38-year-old Shamim made a confident start with an eight-feet birdie conversion on the second. He had a few anxious moments when he dropped bogeys on the sixth and seventh, but his lead was intact as nearest rival Mukesh Kumar of Mhow stumbled with five straight bogeys at the same time.

Shamim consolidated his lead by draining a 25-footer for birdie on the 12th and making a brilliant chip-putt for birdie on the 15th.

The bogey on the 17th was a minor blip, but he had ensured his lead by then.

"I was driving much better today and hit a lot of fairways early on as compared to Round III. That gave me loads of confidence.

"I've always played well at the RCGC and had some top finishes here in recent years. But it feels great to finally win at one of India's best golf courses," said Shamim.

Chowrasia (71-70-72-70), who began the day in tied fifth, seven off the lead, carded an eventful 70 that featured an eagle, four birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey.