RAWALPINDI, March 23: The events of senior professionals, senior amateurs and subsidiary got underway on the opening day of Prime Minister Gold Medal Open Golf Championship at Rawalpindi Golf Club on Thursday . The main events of professionals and amateurs, to be played on 54 holes each, will commence on Friday and conclude on Sunday. The championship is carrying a prize money of Rs400,000 in the professionals and senior professionals categories.

In the senior professionals category on Thursday, Manzoor Ahmed emerged as the leader with an 18-hole score of one-over 73. He holds five-stroke advantage over his nearest rival Mohammad Iqbal who returned a card of 78 while defending champion Shaukat Ali was third jointly with Ghani Rehman, both carding 80 each.

In the subsidiary handicap 13-18 event, Zafarullah Waraich was the leader among net scorers with his card of 65 while Idrees Nisar was one stroke behind on 66. Commnd. Afzal, Shoaib Khalid and Umair Javed were joint third with 70 each.

Idrees Nisar was the leader in gross with his score of 80 while Zafarullah Waraich was one stroke behind. Syed Mushtaq and Raashid Mehmud both topped the list of senior net scorers with 68 each.—APP