Daily Times

LAHORE: The first day of the four days Nabi Yousaf Memorial Professional Golf Challenge Cup, in progress at the par 72 Royal Palm Golf and Country Club Golf Course, turned out to be a day of appreciable scores as seven competitors came up with under par rounds while a similar number finished the first day with score of par 72 and four of the determined ones managed a round of 73 each. And the highlight of the Nabi Yousaf Championship during the first 18 holes was a round of five under par 67 by an upcoming golfer Sunny Masih of Lahore Gymkhana, and a round of four under par 68 by a top ranked player Shahid Javed Khan of Royal Palm Golf Club. While Sunny impressed with his long game, Shahid was consistency loaded and both of them added sparkle to this four-day championship, an exclusive event for the professionals only.

In the course of the first round, Sunny had birdies on holes 3, 4 and 5, another one on the 8th and two more on holes 12th and 14th. These birdies were backed up by eleven regulation pars and the only bogey was encountered on the closing 18th hole. “It has been a memorable day for me,” Sunny said and added: “I plan to continue with proper application of golfing skills over the remaining three rounds and I hope to take full advantage of the excellent fairways of Royal Palm Golf Course to bring under par rounds and remain among top contenders.”

During the first round, Shahid, a number four ranked golf professional of Pakistan, looked like a champion who was passionately seeking victory on his home course. His hitting off the tees had a power oriented touch of impressive accuracy and fairways were absolutely to his liking and enabled shots within the five feet distance of the flag stick. Shahid reaped birdies on holes 3 and 4 and also on holes 12, 13, 14 and 16. The pars were earned on ten holes and the stroke losses hit him on holes 9 and 11. “I am glad that my hitting was in rhythm and I enjoyed the birdie putts on six holes which were free of nerves,” Shahid said. “I hope to play to a game plan on the second day and overtake the other fierce ones.”

Another champion who touched heights of superb play was Shabbir Iqbal of Islamabad. He reflected the champions touch in every aspect of the game and through deft play around the greens he accumulated a score of gross 69, three under par. Others in line for rich cash prizes were Talat Ejaz (Gymkhana) at a score of 71 and M Naeem (Peshawar) also at 71. Another competitor at 71 was M Saeed of Royal Palm. At a score of par 72 were players like Muhammad Munir (Islamabad), Muhammad Siddique (Faisalabad), Muhammad Safdar (Gujranwala), Muhammad Asif (Defence Raya), Ashir Masih (Gymkhana), M Matloob (Lahore Garrison) and Daanyaal Jehangir (Gymkhana). All of them have the potential to improve their positions on the leader board in the remaining three rounds.