09 October 2004	Saturday	23 Shaban 1425

LAHORE, Oct 8: An excellent card of five-under-par-67 by Shahid Javed Khan not only made him the first day leader but also played a pivotal role in Pakistan's two-stroke lead against India in the 44th Amateur golf championship of Pakistan at the Lahore Gymkhana course on Friday.

In the international team competition, the three-member Pakistan team (Shahid, Vaqas Ahmed, Aimal Zaman) had the aggregate of seven-under-209. The Indian team of Vikrant Chopra, Jaskirat S Dullet and Amarbir Singh had the total of five-under-211.

Sri Lanka (three-over-219), Bangladesh (four-over-220) and Iran (28-over-244) are far away from Pakistan and India. Hitting straight and putting outstandingly, Shahid earned six birdies including four at the first nine hole and two at back. His sole bogey was at the par-4 12th.

"Thanks to Allah, I brought the best card of the day which helped my team to take the lead. The competition is tough and I see a tough fight from the Indians in the remaining three-days but for me the next two days are most important," Shahid said adding he would turn professional next month.

Aimal also lived up to expectations of his team-mate, posting a three-under-par-69 card, the second best of the day. He made a hat trick of birdies by saving a stroke each from 6th to 8th hole. Earlier, he had also grabbed a birdie at the 2nd but had a bogey over the next.

Coming back, Aimal was most consistent, having a bogey at the 11th and a birdie at the 16th. Vaqas could have given an impressive card had he not faltered in the beginning before completing the round with one-over-73. He completed the first nine holes with two-over-39, having two bogeys and one double-bogey while birdies at the 1st and the 8th.

He tried to improve the card and reached home with one-under-34. India played well but ironically Jaideep Patwardan faltered in the final stages, other wise, it would be a different story.

Patwardan was three-under till the 16th hole. But at the 17th, Patwardan's hit went out of the way costing him three strokes. On the final 18th, his hit went into water and he completed it with double-bogey to finish at two-over-74.

The other three Indians, whose score was tallied, all entered under-par cards. Vikrant Chopra and Amarbir Singh returned identical card of two-under-70 while Jaskirat S. Dullet of one-under-71.

RESULTS:

INTERNATIONAL TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP.

209- Pakistan (Shahid Javed Khan 67, Aimal Zaman 69, Vaqas Ahmed 73).

211- India (Vikrant Chopra 70, Amarbir Singh 70, Jaskirat S Dullet 71).

219- Sri Lanka (Tissa Chandardasa 72, Mithun Perera 72, Amarapadma 75).

220-Bangladesh (M Milon 71, M Sohel 75, M Hussain 74).

244-Iran (Dawood Osati Ashtiani 82, Hassan Karimian Noshahr 83, Manoochehr Nassiri 79).

INDIVIDUAL SECTION.

67- Shahid Javed Khan.

69- Dr Aimal Zaman.

70- Vikrant Chopra (India), Amarbir Singh (India).

71- Jaskirat S Dullet (India), M Milon (Bangladesh).

72- Tissa Chandardasa (Sri Lanka), Mithun Perera (Sri Lanka), M Safdar.

73- Vaqas Ahmed.

74- M Hussain (Bangladesh), Tariq Ali Chaudhary (Sri Lanka), Jaideep Patwardan (India).

75-M Sohel (Bangladesh), Amarapadma (Sri Lanka), Aamir Mahmood.