ISLAMABAD, Sept 19: Matloob Ahmed carded three under par 69 on Friday to take a one-stroke lead in the professional category of the COAS Open Championship at the Rawalpindi Golf Club.

The Lahore Gymkhana golfer was ahead of his club-mate Tahir Naseem and Lyallpur’s Muhammad Saddique, both of who were two under par 70.

Matloob birdied the par 4 fifth and sixth holes and had three more birdies on the back nine. He had two bogeys on holes two and eight.

Irfan Mahmood of the host club was close on the heels of the leaders with a round of one under par 71, scoring four birdies in an outing in which he bogeyed thrice.

A stroke behind on par 72 was Islamabad Club’s Anser Mehmood and Gymkhana’s Arshad Ali.

Karim Satti, a nine handicapper posted three under par 69 to take the early lead in the amateurs net category being contested for the main COAS Trophy. Following him in joint second place were Wng. Cdr. Ehtisham and Yasir Khokhar who had net score of 70 each.

Shahid Javed who had a round of par 72 was the leader in the amateur gross event while Taimur Hasan was three over.

Among the senior professionals, Akbar Ali was in front with a score of one over par 73 while Rawalpindi’s Muhammad Rafiq was two strokes behind.

In the seniors net competition, Rawalpindi golfers led the field with Lt. Col Zaheer, an 18 handicapper on top, collecting a net score of 69.

He was followed by M. Sadiq Chaudhry who had a net 70 and Col. Rashid Mehmood who was net 71.

Islamabad Club’s AVM (Retd) Abbas Mirza with a score of 81 led the seniors gross event while Brig. Abdul Ghafoor Raja followed the leader with a gross 82 while AW Afridi was close behind at 83.

Scores:

Professionals: Matloob Ahmed 69, Tahir Naseem 70, Muhammad Saddique 70, Irfan Mehmood 71.

Amateurs (net): Karim Satti 69, Wng Cdr Ehtisham 70, Yasir Khokhar 70

Amateurs (gross): Shahid Javed 72, Taimur Hasan 75

Seniors (net): Lt. Col Zaheer 69, Muhammad Sadiq Chaudhry 70, Col Rashid Mehmood 71

Seniors (gross): AVM Abbas Mirza 81, Brig Abdul Ghafoor Raja 82, AW Afridi 83.

Senior professionals: Akbar Ali 73, Muhammad Rafiq 75, Shoukat Ali 77.