21 February 2004	Saturday	29 Zilhaj 1424

KARACHI, Feb 20: The hosts had a great day to celebrate at Arabian Sea Country Club (ASCC) on Friday after they won the International Team title of Mobilink 43rd Amateur Golf Championship of Pakistan and Vaqas Ahmed emerged at the top of the leaderboard.

Though Vaqas was unable to match his opening day's performance of four-under-par 68, however, two-under-par second round of 70 lifted him on the top with an aggregate of six-under-138.

Vaqas carded five birdies during his fine display, making 35 each at front as well back-nine. Back nine included birdies at 531 yards hole 11, 441 yards 15th and 411 yards 16th hole.

Indian Vikrant Chopra leapfrogged into joint second position with two- under-par following his one-under 71 in the first round. Chopra's collegue Harinder Gupta played the best round in ideal conditions at ASCC on lovely fairways greens which was excellent for golf. He fired three-under-par to end day two with 141 to be joint second with compatriot Vikrant.

A poor second round of four-over-par 76 relegated first day's leader K. Prabagran of Sri Lanka to joint fourth place with a total of 142. The second day proved a Pakistan day as Vaqas Ahmed, Shahid Javed Khan and Tariq Mehmood came up with under-par rounds to edge out Sri Lanka and countered the pressure launched by the Indian team.

Pakistan trio collected a score of 423 to become proud winner of International Team Match overcoming the challenge of Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh.

Sri Lanka finished runners-up with 427, Indians third with aggregate of 429 and Bangladesh secured fourth spot with 445. Teenager Amrith De Soysa is leading the way in under-18 event with another fine three-over-par 75 and with an aggregate of 148 is placed joint 11th with a total of 148 in the main contest.

Ladies event also teed-off with Jamila Jabbar in the lead followed by Mrs Tahira Nazeer and Faakeha Amreen, Saba Iqbal and Sherin Khan. The newly included seniors competition tees-off on Saturday.

Following are the top golfers after 2nd round. 138 (68+70) Vaqas Ahmed (Pak) 141 (71-70) Vikrant Chopra (India) 141 (72-69) Harinder Gupta (India) 142 (72-70) Shahid Javed Khan (Pak) 142 (66-76) K.Prabagran (Sri Lanka) 143 (73-70) Tariq Mehmood (Pak) 143 (73-70) Lilith Kumra (Sri Lanka) 143 (72-71) Waseem Rana (DHA) 146 (71-75) N.Amara Padma (Sri Lanka) 146 (73-73) M.Milon Ahmed (Bangladesh) 147 (75-72) Tissa Chandradasa (Sri Lanka) 147 (73-74) Manav Das (India) 147 (75-72) Saddiq-ur-Rehman (Bangladesh). -APP