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| January 22, 2006 | Sunday | Zilhaj 21, 1426 |
Golf: Munir back in contention for glory
KARACHI, Jan 21: The third round of US $ 200,000 Asian Tour Pakistan Open revolves around local hope Muhammad Munir who took a leap and landed closer to creating history at the Karachi Golf Club on the penultimate day, on Saturday.
Munir, who was five strokes behind the overnight leaders and trailing at the sixth position, carded six under par 66 in the third round to jump to second slot with twelve under par 204 to keep country’s hope of crowning the glory.
Overnight co-leader, Mark Mouland of Wales, who played a third round of 71 slipped one step to be tied with Munir at the second slot.
However, Chris Rodgers of England who finished joint top at the half way mark maintained his performance and remained on top with fifteen under par 201. He played a third round of 68.
In addition to Munir, Matloob Ahmed and Shabbir Iqbal were the other two Pakistanis who were among top 10 at the completion of third round in the 72-hole competition.
Neighbouring India enjoyed lion’s share as their four players made it to the top 10. They include Ashok Kumar, Jeev Milkha Singh, Amandeep Johl, tied at fourth position, and Digvijav Singh tied at 10th.
Though Munir has pocketed numerous domestic titles in his 15-year career, Pakistan Open has eluded him so far.
He attributed ‘accurate putting’ as the main factor of his superb third round.
“I am confident of repeating good performance in the last round on Sunday to do my country proud,” a jubilant Munir who finished among top 20 at a premier championship in India late last year, told reporters after playing third round.
Munir disclosed that he did not go to Asian Qualifying School in Malaysia earlier this month as he got exemption and a direct entry in this event.
He said Pakistan had enormous talent but the golfers lacked sponsorship.
Rodgers, winner of the Asian Qualifying School tournament last week, said he was in tremendous form and would go all out to win the title.
The London-based Rodgers said though he had won minor events on the Asian Tour and if he succeeded, this would be his biggest victory.
Keeping his cool, Munir started the third round in style hitting two successive birdies on hole- two and three besides one on sixth, on the front nine.
After having two lapses by failing to chip and putt on the hole seven and a bogey on hole nine, he recovered and birdied on hole 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18.
Rodgers, on the other hand, displayed an all round performance on the green fairways. However, he had a disadvantage of a double bogey. He fired six birdies on hole- three, four, 13, 15, 17 and 18.
The four-day championship concludes on Sunday with the fourth round.
Leading third round scorers:
201- Chris Rodgers (Eng) 69, 64, 68
204- Muhammad Munir (Pak) 70, 68, 66; Mark Mouland (Wal) 68, 65, 71
208- Barry Hume (Sco) 70, 72, 66; Iain Steel (Mas) 73, 66, 69; Ashok Kumar
(Ind) 68, 70, 70; Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 68, 69, 71; Amandeep Johl
(Ind) 68, 67, 73
209- Akinori Tani (Jpn) 69, 72, 68
210- Jochen Lupprian (Ger) 72, 68, 70; Digvijav Singh (Ind) 71, 69, 70;
Matloob Ahmed (Pak) 70, 70, 70; Shabbir Iqbal (Pak) 70, 67, 73
211- Imdad Hussain (Pak) 68, 72, 71
212- Anura Rohana (sri) 71, 70, 71; Marcus Both (Aus) 70, 71, 71; Juvic
Pagunsan (Phi) 73, 68, 71; Unho Park (Aus) 71, 69, 72; Jeremy Kavanagh
(Eng) 70, 69, 73
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