RAWALPINDI, April 5: Manzoor Ahmed of Lahore Gymkhana carded one-under 71 Friday to lead the field of professionals by one stroke in the Chief Executive Gold Medal Open Championship at the Rawalpindi Golf course.

In second place at par-72 was Islamabad Club’s Mehmood Kiani while Ghulam Nabi, Muhammad Sultan, Muhammad Tahir, Akhtar Ali and Talib Hussain were all tied for third place at one-over 73.

There was also a five-way tie for fourth place with Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Siddique, Shabbir Iqbal, Muhammad Munir and Afzal Mohsin all locked at two-over 74.

Manzoor had four birdies on the front nine with these coming on the first, third, sixth and seventh holes. He bogeyed the eighth, 13th and 18th.

Kiani, on the other hand, struck five birdies, two while going out on the fourth and ninth and three on return on the 14th, 16th and 17th. He had four bogeys.

In the amateur gross competition, Vaqas Ahmed with one-over par 73 was ahead while Zeeshan Ali was three strokes behind at 76. Taimur Hussain was third at 77.

Vaqas scored three birdies and bogeyed four times on the first, eighth, 10th and 12th holes.

Talal Safdar was the leader in the amateur net category and was followed by Lt. Shan Islam and Maj Haseeb Ahmed, who were second and third respectively.

The ladies competition, meanwhile, had to be stopped because of bad light.

Shaukat Ali with an aggregate score of 154 over two days won the senior professional title while Akbar Ali with 157 was second and Muhammad Rafique took third spot with 161.