LAHORE, March 22: A very close competition was witnessed as 13 competitors are competing for the top three positions in the All-Pakistan Garrison golf championships which teed off on Tuesday after a day’s loss due to rain.

Shafique Masih, fresh from his career’s first victory in the eighth Faysal Bank Open golf on Sunday, started off as the joint leader with Javed Inayat posting identical card of two-under-par-70.

Shafique showed more consistency while Javed paid the price for doing a double bogey on the final hole, otherwise he could have been the sole leader.

Shafique completed 16 holes at par and earned birdies on the 9th and the 15th to complete the bogeyless first day. He did first and last nine holes at one-under-par-35 each.

Javed played an eventful round, laced with six birdies, two bogies besides a double bogey.

After conceding a bogey on the 4th hole, Javed recovered with three birdies on the 5th, 7th and the 9th to complete the first nine hole at two-under-par-34.

Coming back, he again lost a stroke in the beginning at the 10th hole but again consolidated his position with three birdies on the 11th, 13th and 17th and was going well on course to take first spot.

But he faltered at the last hole of 4-par completing it with a double bogey.

One stroke behind were Muhammad Sajid and Muhammad Tariq in second place.

An eagle on par-4 8th hole and a birdie on the 9th helped Sajid to complete the inward journey excellently at two-under-par-34, as he had a bogey on the 4th hole.

On way back, Sajid earned two birdies on the 10th and the 13th but he lost a stroke on the 12th and then suffered a big loss having a double bogey on the 17th to come at the second spot.

Tariq also completed the first nine hole at two-under-34 with birdies on the 4th and the 5th.

He had bogies on the 12th and the 13th while lone birdie on the 15th to do the last nine holes one-over-37. Nine golfers are tied at 72.

Defending champion, Shahid Javed Khan disappointed his fans as he could hardly survive to play on the final day on Wednesday as he was at the 30th position after posting a card of three-over- 75.

Only 30 professionals will play the last round.

In all, 84 professionals competed on Tuesday.

Shafique Bhatti with a score of two-over-74 was the leader of the amateur gross event followed by Asif Mehdi (76) and Fakhar Imam and Zulfiqar Ali, who were joint at the third position with identical score of 77. Munir, a 10 handicapper, is the leader of the net event.

Results:

Professionals:

70-Javed Inayat (34,36); Shafique Masih (35,35).

71-Muhammad Tariq (34,37), Muhammad Sajid (34,37).

72-Mahmood Kiyani, Shahid Aleem, Arshad Ali, Akhtar Ali, Asghar Ali, Imdad Husain, Muhammad Akram, Talib Husain, Muhammad Munir.

Amateur (gross):

74-Shafique Bhatti

76-Asif Mehdi.

77-Fakhar Imam, Zulfiqar Ali.

Net:

70-Munir (10 handicapper).

71- Tashfeen, Ikram.