Daily Times

LAHORE: Pakistan A, comprising Ghazanfar Mahmood and Ahmad Baig, won the International Team Match of the 55th National Amateur Golf Championship at the challenging Defence Raya par 72 Golf Course here on Friday. Pakistan A managed to beat Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Iran and even Pakistan B. Bangladesh, who were level with Pakistan A at the end of the first day, could not sustain the pressure the following day and even failed to attain the runners-up slot. Through steady play Pakistan B, comprising Ashiq Hussain and Nadeem Aslam, ended up as the runners-up while Bangladesh getting the third slot. Pakistan A had a score of 303, Pakistan B accumulated a score of 311 while Bangladesh scored 317.

In the race for the individual national title, there was a change in the leader board. After the first round, Fakhar Imam of Defence Raya was the leader. But after the second round, Taimur Khan of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa took over the leaderboard with two days aggregate score of 144. Taimur had been consistent as his scores indicated. He carded a par round of 72 on the first day and again a 72 on the second day made possible by his focused play. His hitting off the tees was clock like in regularity backed by copybook shots from fairways to the greens. His nearest competitor and challenger was Fakhar Imam who again played steady golf in the second round except two putting mishaps which caused unnecessary stroke losses. With a second round score of 75, Fakhar has a two rounds aggregate of 146, two shots behind the leader.

Punjab, comprising M Rehman, Ahmed Baig, Ashiq Hussain and Ghazanfar Mehmood, continued to dominate the Inter Association Team Match. After two rounds, their cumulative team score was 449. Sindh A, comprising Ahmed Ali Shah, Waseem Rana, Zohaib Asif and Ansar Mehmood, were placed second at a score of 459.

The leader board after two rounds:

Taimur Khan (KP) 72+72=144

Fakhar Imam (Defence Raya) 71+75=146

M Rehman (Royal Palm) 73+74=147

Zunair Aleem Khan (Defence Raya) 77+71=148

Mohsen Zafar (Gymkhana) 75+75=150

Ghazanfar Mehmood (Rawalpindi) 77+74=151

Ahmed Baig (Lahore Garrison) 77+75=152

Waseem Rana (DHA Karachi) 75+77=152

Abdul Zahoor (Multan) 79+73=152

Asif Ahmed (Karachi Gymkhana) 78+75=153

Sardar Murad (Defence Raya) 76+77=153

Ahmed Ali Shah (Karachi Gymkhana) 76+77=153

Sajid Khan (Karachi) 79+74=153.