LAHORE, Sept 30: Muhammad Munir of PTCL and Labah Masih, an upcoming golfer from Lahore Gymkhana fired a three-under-69 card each to share the first slot on the opening day of the Punjab Open golf championship at the Lahore Gymkhana course on Friday.

Munir, who lifted Rachna

Cup in Gujranwala last week made a fine start along with Labah.

Five competitors are at second position with a difference of only one stroke indicate a tough fight in the three-day Pro event carrying a cash prize of Rs 500,000, for the first time.

Both Munir and Labah had six birdies each with three bogeys apiece.

The golfers trailing at second spot with two-under-par-70 each are Pervaiz Akhtar of Islamabad, Abdul Hamid of PTV, Imdad Hussain of Garrison, Javed Inayat of Karachi and Shafiq Masih. At 71, three golfers Muhammad Tahir, Abbas Ali and Y Habib are bracketed at third spot.

There are also five golfers joint at the fourth spot with par-72, each.

They are Irfan Mehmood, Mohsin Afzal, Fida Hussain, Ansar Mehmood and Ghazanfar Mehmood.

Shabbir Iqbal, a possible threat for Munir for the top position, however, made a bad start by entering a card of three- over-75.

In the amateur section, Imran Ahmad was the leader after the first round with a score of par-72. Zohaib Asif is second at one-over-73, Waseem Rana three-over-75, and M. Tariq and Javed A. Khan at four-over- 76 each.

Results (Pro):

69- M.Munir (PTCL), Labah Masih (Gym).

70- Pervaiz Akhtar (ISD), Abdul Hameed (PTV), Imdad Hussain (GAR), Javed Inayat (Kar), Shafiq Masih (Gym).

71- M.Tahir (Gym), Abbas Ali (Gym), and Y.Habib (Gym).

72-Irfan Mahmood, Mohsin Afzal, Fida Hussain, Ansar Mehmood and Ghazanfar Mehmood.