01 August 2004	Sunday	14 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425

LAHORE, July 31: Excellent performance by Shahid Javed Khan, who posted the day's best card three-under-105 with teammate Vaqas Ahmed's six-over-114, helped Pakistan advance to the finals of the 6th Saarc golf championship at the Royals Palm and Country Club on the second day of the three-day event on Saturday.

Pakistan face arch-rivals India in the final.

The golfers, from six countries, had to play over 27 holes on Saturday (three round of nine each) to compensate for the loss of first day's play which was washed out due to heavy downpour.

Shahid, who had five birdies and two bogeys at the end of the tiringround must have been refreshened by his teammate Vaqas Ahmed's aggregate of three-over-219, that greatly helped Pakistan advance into finals.

The Indians Simarjeet Singh (one-over-109) and Manav Das (four-over-112) also collected an aggregate of five-over-221 to enter the finals.

Shahid was in terrific form and completed all the three rounds with one-under-35, each.

The first round was played on 10 to 18 holes which Shahid completed with a birdie at the par-5' 12th. In the second round, played from hole No 1 to 9, Shahid collected two more birdies at the par-5' 3rd and the par-5' 8th, but he also had a bogey at the par's 7th.

Shahid faltered at the start of the third round (from 10 to 18 holes) by losing a stroke at par-4's 10th. But he soon recovered and maintaining consistence, completed it with two more birdies at the 10th and the 18th.

"I am quite satisfied with my performance and I do hope another one on Sunday to bring laurels for the country," Shahid said. The course was a difficult one and there was no room for any mistake while playing, he added.

There are 53 bunkers and eight lakes over the course.

Vaqas completed the first two rounds expensively at three-over-39, each. However, he had settled down and completed the final round at par-36.

Aimal gave a disappointing performance as he posted a poor card of over-10-118 (38,41,39).

Simarjeet Singh played well for India and produced the second best card of the day - one-over-109 (36,36,37). Manav Das, played a round of four-over-112, but it was too short. The break-up of his three rounds is 37,37,38.

"We played well and we were also wishing a final with Pakistan and that had happened. It will be good final on Sunday but the better team will win," Simarjeet said.

"It was not the first time we played more than 18 holes in a day, therefore, playing over-27 holes was not a big problem for us," Manav Das said.

Bangladesh proved a dark horse to get the third position with aggregate of seven-over-223. Their Siddikur Rahman produced the best card of three-over-111 while Milon Ahmed four-over-112.

Favourites Sri Lanka disappointed their fans as they finished the day at the fourth position with aggregate of 14-over-230. Lalit Kumara said that it was a bad day for Sri Lanka. "We played well but our rivals were too good."

At 240, Nepal were fifth and at 250 Bhutan sixth.

Pakistan and India will play the final on one-to-one basis and the team which two players won will earn the main trophy. In case of draw, India will take the trophy being the defending champions.

According to the draws, Shahid meets Jaskirat Singh Dullet while Vaqas plays Simarjeet Singh and Aimal faces Manav Das.

The other four teams will be competing for the third spot.

Sri Lankans are leading in the ladies section on the first day in which only three countries - Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal - are competing. The teams will play another round of 18-holes on Sunday to decide the winners.

The Sri Lankan duo of Jacqueline Anysa Dias (83) and Kishani Vetuavinayaken (94) with aggregate of 168 were leading.

The Pakistan team comprising Jamila Jabbar (85) and Tahira Nazir (94)was second at 179 - conceding a big lead of 11 strokes.

Shahtika Shreshtha (98) and Pushpa Rai (103) of Nepal could aggregate 201.

Scores:

Team Trophy (men): 219-Pakistan (Shahid Javed Khan 105, Vaqas Ahmed 114, Dr Aimal Zaman 118).

221-India (Simarjeet Singh, Manav Das 112, Jaskirat Singh Dullet 114).

223-Bangladesh (Siddikur Rahman 111, Milon Ahmed 112, Shakhawat Hossain Soh 125).

230-Sri Lanka (Lalith Kumara 113, Tissa Chandradasa 117, K Prabagaran 121).

240-Nepal (Shiva ram Shreshta 118, Tashi Ghale 122, Chuda Bahadur Bhandari 124).

250-Bhutan (Karma Rangdol 121, Uygen Dorji 132, Chang Tshering 129).

Ladies:

168-Sri Lanka (Jacqueline Anysa Dias 83, Kishani Vetuavinayaken 94).

179-Pakistan (Jamila Jabbar 85, Tahira Nazir 94).

201-Nepal (Shahtika Shreshtha-Pushpa Rai).