Daily Times

LAHORE: The 6th Chief of Naval Staff Golf Championship got underway at the par 72 Royal Palm Golf Course in excellent weather and superb playing conditions here on Friday. And at the conclusion of the first 18 holes, the very young and talented amateur golfer Robin Bagh of Mianwali Golf Club emerged as the rising star with a performance that can be graded as most admirable and impressive. Robin proved himself to be a golfer of substance who went through the first round with a fluency oriented display of golfing skills. Even though competing with players of standing like Salman Jehangir, Mohsen Zafar, M Rehman, Tariq Mehmood and others, this amply skilled amateur golf player accepted the challenge and was the competitor in command.

During the first round, Robin had a first round score of gross 69, three under par and while accuracy in
shot making carried the touch of perfection, he was also tremendous around and on the greens.

“I liked the ball lie on the fairways of the Royal Palm Golf Course and this factor facilitated accurate and crisp shot making,” he said. He felt that this was a great moment of his golfing career and owed gratitude to the organising team of Pakistan Navy. It is pertinent to mention that the Chief of Naval Staff Golf Championship has attained the status of a prestigious and grand event which honours participants through heartwarming hospitality of Pakistan Navy and the host club and also provides them a chance to compete and show their skills on a golf course and golf playing arena which can be ranked amongst the best in Asia.

Another competitor who played with conviction and forceful stroke execution was Ashiq Hussain of Multan. Considered a man loaded with golfing skills, this participant’s devoted application in the first round fetched him a most decent score of gross 70. His approach and consistent touch enabled him to be the top challenger to Robin Bagh and the stroke difference was minimal. He too was grateful to Pakistan Navy for the playing opportunity. Other competitors in line for honours in gross section were Ghazanfar Mehmood of Garden City Golf Club who was at score of gross 71, followed by Wazir Ali (Royal Palm) at gross 72 and Tariq Mehmood of Pakistan Navy at gross 74. Two competitors – Saeed Khattak and Zunair Aleem – were placed at score of gross 76 with M Saqib, Sajid Khan and Mohsen Zafar at 77. The race in net category was led by Farid Malik of Royal Palm who had a flair enriched round of net 67, five under par. Asif Bajwa, a former office bearer of the Pakistan Hockey Federation, also showed his golfing talent with an impressive round of net 69.