KARACHI, July 16: Islamabad’s Sajjad Khan fired a card of five under par 67 to emerge opening day’s leader in the Open category of 54-hole 10th Sindh Open golf championship which teed-off at the Arabian Sea Country Club (ASCC) on Wednesday.

Sajjad, who enjoys two stroke lead over ace golfer Shabbir Iqbal and Talib Hussain, had to his credit five birdies – three at the front nine and two at the back nine.

He thwarted the windy conditions with his excellent putting at the picturesque course to lead a pack of 61 pros.

Challenger Shabbir, winner of the recently concluded CNS golf championship and Talib are tied in the second position with three under par 69.

Defending champion Amjad Yousuf of the Karachi Golf Club (KRC) is lying 12th with one over par 73.

Mohammad Shafique carded one over par 73 to lead the 36-hole Senior Professionals category.

Trailing a stroke behind with two over par 74 are Manzoor Ahmed and Ghani Khan.

Sajid Khan of ASCC and Adil Jahangir played one over 73 to emerge joint leaders in the Amateurs event.

Defending champion Mohammad Ali Hai failed to capitalise his expertise and finished the opening day with eight over par 80.

One stroke behind Hai is secretary of the SGA, Asad I. A. Khan with nine over par 81.

Leading first day scorers (professionals):

67- Sajjad Khan (Islamabad).

69- M. Shabbir Iqbal (Islamabad), Talib Hussain (Islamabad).

70- Imdad Hussain (Bank AL-Falah), Matloob Ahmed (Gymkhana), Mohammad Irfan (Rawalpindi).

72- Waheed Baloch (KGC), Shahid Javed Khan (Rawalpindi), Mohammad Muneer (Islamabad), Nisar Hussain (PAF).

Leading first day scorers (Senior Professionals):

73- M. Shafique (Gymkhana).

74- Manzoor Ahmed (Gymkhana), Ghani Khan (ASCC).

76- Shaukat Ali (Gymkhana).

77- A. Sattar (KGC).

82- A. Rasheed (KGC).

86- Angoor Khan (KGC).

90- Khair Mohammad (KGC).

96- Abdul Karim (KGC).

Leading first day scorers (Amateurs):

73- Sajid Khan (ASCC), Adil Jehangir.

74- M. Safdar (Gujranwala), Ayaz Gul (SGA), Rafiq Malik (SGA).

75- Amjad Rahim (SGA).

76- Inayatullah (Swat), Lt. Cdr Shazli Azher (KGC), Alimur Rehman (Lahore Gymkhana), Zohaib Asif (DHA).

78- Abrar Ahmed (SGA), Mohsin Khan (SGA), Rofen Shamim (SGA).

79- Ali Sher (SGA)

80- Mohammad Ali Hai (KGC), Waseem Rana (DHA), Bassam Shazli (KGC).

81- Asad I. A. Khan (ASCC), Salman Sabir (Rawalpindi).