KARACHI, Aug 11: Former champion Mohammad Sajid carded four under par 68 for a one stroke lead against Akhtar Ali in the first round of 54-hole eighth Sindh Open Golf Championship which teed-off at the Arabian Sea Country Club on Friday.

Sajid of PTV fired six birdies at holes 4, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14 to lead the pack of 60 top ranked pros of the country sans defending champion Shabbir Iqbal.

Akhtar’s three under 69 were aided with four birdies including a hat trick on front nine on hole 4, 5, 6 and on 11.

Mohammad Munir, Shakeel Rehmati and M. Javed are tied for the third slot with two under par 70.

Ansar Mehmood who dethroned Shabbir Iqbal to crown CNS title last week played a par round of 72 to be tied with five players.

Sindh’s Ayaz Gul and DHA’s Waseem Rana played one over par 73 to share the top position in amateur gross category.

Following on the heels is Country Club’s Sajid Khan who fired two over par 74.

KGC’s Ali Sher, who shot 76, was penalised two strokes and thus finished with 78.

Mohammad Ali Hai, who carded an unimpressive 77, was disqualified for a breach of rule.

Ayaz and Sajid are jointly leading the amateur net category with 69. They are followed by Waseem Rana, Mansoor Teli and Ghufran Ghani on 71.

Leading first round scorers:

Open:

68 – M. Sajid.

69 – Akhtar Ali.

70 – M. Munir, Shakeel Rehmati, M. Javed

71 – Matloob Ahmed.

72 – M. Afzal, Ansar Mehmood, Fida Hussain, M. Siddiqui, Waheed Balouch, M. Akhtar.

73 – Imdad Hussain, Nazir Khan, M. Arif, M. Tariq, Talib Hussain.

74 – Chinar Gul, Shahid Javed Khan, Javed Inayat, Naseer Khan.

75 – Nadeem Inayat, Amjad Yousuf, Asghar Ali.