KARACHI, Aug 28: Imdad Hussain and Shabbir Iqbal made a fine start on the opening day of professional category of the 5th Sindh Open Golf Champiponship by firing five-under-par 67 in the first round at Arabian Sea Country Club on Thursday.

Both golfers stole the limelight with their brilliant display in the pack of 99 golfers in pleaset overcast conditions in lucrartive Rs 500,000 prize money contest.

Imdad of Garrision Gymkhana Lahore carded a 34 at front nine and 33 back-nine including five birdies without a bogey to share the leaderboard.

Shabbir of Islamabad Gymkhana, who captured ast week’s Chief of Naval Staff Golf title, produced a superb show at the back nine by scoring 32 after having carded 35 at front nine to emerge joint leader on the first day. Shabbir’s had six birdies.

Two strokes behind, Imdad and Shahbir are Ghaznffar Mahmood of Wapda, Abbas Ali of Lahore Gymkhana, Salim Inayat of Karachi Golf Club (KGC) aqnd defending champion Matloob Ahmed also of Lahore Gymkhana.

Ali Hai of KGC shot a round of two-under-par 70 which included an eagle at hole seven to lead the amateurs.

A stroke behind him was Wasim Rana of DHA Club while Haji Ansari, Sohail Rana and Sajjad Jamil are tied at third spot with two-over-par round of 74.

Promising teenager Omair Javed was placed at sixth with three-over-par 75.

Leading scores after first round.

1. Imdad Hussain (Garrision) 67 2. Shabbir Iqbal (Islamabad) 67 3. Ghazanffar Mehmood (WAPDA) 69

4. Abbas Ali (Gym) 69

5. Salim Inayat (KGC) 69

6. Matloob Ahmed (Gym) 69

7. Afzal Moshin (Gym) 69

8. Abdul Jabbar (Raw) 70

9. Arshad Ali (Gym) 70

10. Taj Nabi (KGC) 70.—APP