March 31, 2007	Saturday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 11, 1428

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LAHORE, March 30: Matloob Ahmed of the Lahore Gymkhana posted a fine card of seven-under-par-65 to emerge as the first day leader of professionals in the 10th Faysal Bank Open golf championship at the Lahore Gymkhana on Friday.

Matloob excelled as he mastered the arena with a flawless round, hitting seven birdies and having no bogie.

On the way of scoring a brilliant round, he birdied at 2nd, 7th and 8th to complete the first nine with three-under-par-33. Coming back, Matloob improved further by adding four birdies at the 10th, 11th, 13th and the 16th to find him at the top.

Another prominent golfer, Imdad Hussain (Railways) fell two strokes behind, showing glimpse of possible tough contest on the remaining two days. He was in total command till the 16th hole, matching the leader's score.

Imdad, who had a bogie at the 4th hole, otherwise played a commendable round, having eagles on the 11th and the 16th, besides birdying at the 7th, 8th, 14th and the 15th.

Other notable professionals who entered under-par cards were Anser Mehmood (Islamabad) 68, Shahid Hanif (Gymkhana) 70, Waheed Baloch (Karachi) 70, Abbas Ali (Gymkhana) 70, M. Siddique (Faisalabad) 71, Talib Hussain (Rawalpindi) 71 and Akhtar Ali (Police) 71.

The luckiest professional of the day was Sajjad Khan of Islamabad, who holed in one the par-3, 17th to claim hole-in-one Cuore Car. In case there is no hole in one by any other participant on the remaining two days, Sajjad gets the car.

M. Safdar was the only one in the amateur section to show composure and application of golfing skills and ended the day with a score of gross two-under-par-70.

Other noteworthy golfers are M. Rehman (Royal Palm) 74, Danyal Jahangir 75, Fakhar Imam (Garrison) 76.

Among the amatuers, Asad Amin impressed with an eagle on the par-5, 11th hole.

Scores:

65 — Matloob Ahmed Rana (Gymkhana).

67 — Imdad Hussain (Railways).

68 — Anser Mehmood (Islamabad).

70 — Shahid Hanif (Gymkhana).

71 — M. Siddique (Faisalabad), Akhtar Ali (Police), Talib Hussain (Rawalpindi).