LAHORE: Dr Asma Afzal Shami of the Pakistan Golf Federation and head of women’s golf in Pakistan succeeded in creating history for women’s golf in Pakistan by holding the 1st PGF International Women’s Amateur Golf Championship at the striking and marvelous par 72, Defence Raya Golf Course here. As the champion lady from Sri Lanka Taniya Balasuriya, an accomplished golfer of merit and skills, hit the first tee shot yesterday, it represented a notable and eventful happening and this was something Dr Shami had ventured for by applying her passion and immense organisational abilities for over two years. From the angle of history, she had almost surmounted all obstacles to do it last year too. But then the Indian attack in February last year compelled a cancellation of the international golfing activity that has evaded the golfing women of Pakistan for many decades. Even after this cancellation Dr Shami pursued her intent and aspiration with gusto and perseverance and the whole endeavour paid off in the shape of this women’s championship taking place in Pakistan with proficient women from seven countries: Sri Lanka, Thailand, Qatar, Afghanistan, Iran, Uganda and Malaysia. As for the competition itself, the pace setter in the first round of this three days international championship turned out to be Phannari Meeson of Thailand with an 18 holes score of gross 75. Over the first 18 holes her tee shots were masterly and she compiled the score of gross 75 with the help of 12 regulation pars and two supreme and perfect looking birdies on the 16th and 17th holes. Along the way, she did face hiccups too when she double bogied the sixth hole and had bogies on holes 3, 7 and 9. Out of the other international aspirants, Taniya Balasuriya of Sri Lanka was equally remarkable and noticeable was hitting off the tees on all par fours and par fives and precise and error free shots from the amiable fairways of Defence Raya Golf Course. Her score for the first round was gross 76 and she was one stroke behind the leader Meeson of Thailand. Another who displayed good control was Chanettee Wannasen of Thailand and by virtue of steady play she was placed third, with a gross score of 78. Out of the Pakistan women, Suneya Osama came up with the best score out of the home participants and looked set to come up with a more exceptional performance in the rounds to come .Overall she was placed in fourth position with a score of gross 79.