Daily Times

KARACHI: At the end of the first round of the professionals section of the three-round 20th Sindh Open Golf Championship, endorsed and supported by New Jubilee Insurance, at the par 72, Karachi Arabian Sea Country Club Golf Course here Friday, the first round belonged to six champions of the national golf circuit. The six were bunched together as leaders at a score of gross 68, four under par. Anser Mehmood of MGGC was one and others were Shahid Javed Khan (Lahore Gymkhana), Mohammad Ashfaq (Airmen Golf Club), Mohammad Qasim (DHA), Mohammad Munir (Islamabad) and Mohammad Afzal (SRC). And interestingly, just one stroke behind at a score of gross 69 was eminent and consistency loaded performer Matloob Ahmed of Garrison Golf Club and seasoned Tahir Nasim of Lahore Gymkhana.

During the 18 holes yesterday at the well maintained Arabian Sea Golf Course, these six champions were models of excellence, performing to perfection and looking awesome in every aspect of the game, which included power packed hitting off the tees, accurate approach shots to the greens and total control of the putter. It was through a perfection oriented combination of their playing skills that Anser, Shahid, Ashfaq, Qasim, Munir and Afzal came up with similar rounds of gross 68, four under par which reflected a brilliant effort. Such under par rounds do cheer up the golf spectators and organisers which in this case included Arif Ali Abbasi, CEO of the club and former PCB chairman and Asad I.A Khan, vice president of the Pakistan Golf Federation.

Of course the wind factor remained a challenge throughout the first day and champions met the challenge adequately by applying their skills with enthusiasm and passion. Others who looked good and capable of making a charge were Atiqurrehman (KGC), Latif Rafiq (Gymkhana) and Mohammad Nazir (Islamabad). These three managed an impressive score of gross 70, two under par. And seem determined to edge past the leaders of the first round over the remaining two rounds. A few more who played well were Hashmat Khan (DHA), Mohamamd Tariq (Islamabad ), Waheed Baloch (KGC) and Ahmed Saeed (KGC) and ended up the first round at a score of gross 71. Some champions who could not stand out on the first day were Shabbir Iqbal and Hamza Amin and hope to push their positions up the leader board with stunning performances on day two and day three. The second round promises an eventful clash between the top contenders.

Published in Daily Times, August 4^th 2018.