KARACHI: Producing an all round performance, prolific golfer Mohammad Munir played a bogey-free round of 67, five under par, to seize top position pushing overnight leader Mohammad Safdar Khan to second place in the UMA 19th Chief of the Naval Staff Open Golf Championship on the penultimate day at Karachi Golf Club on Saturday.

Munir, who had many honours under his belt, has shown improvement with every passing day – 71, 70, 67 – to amass a score of 208, eight under, to earn a stroke lead over Safdar.

The veteran golfer’s third round envisaged an eagle, three birdies and 14 pars.

Safdar, who remained steady in the first and second rounds with 68 and 69, had a par round which include 12 pars, three birdies and as many bogeys.

Laying third a stroke behind at 210 is former champion Mohammad Shabbir Iqbal, who posted a card of four under 68 in the third round.

Meanwhile, there’s a two-way between DHA’s Waseem Rana and promising Saim Shazli of KGC for the top slot in amateurs category. Both are tied at 225, nine over par after third round.

Leader board after third round:

Pros:

208 — Mohammad Munir (Islamabad) 71, 70, 67

209 — Mohammad Safdar Khan (Gujranwala) 68, 69, 72

210 — Mohammad Shabbir Iqbal (Islamabad) 72, 70, 68

212 — M. Ashfaq (Airmen Golf Club) 73, 68, 71; Imran Ali Khan (DHA) 70, 68, 74

Amateurs:

225 — Waseem Rana (DHA) 80, 76, 69; Saim Shazli (KGC) 77, 70, 78

226 — Zulfiqar Ali (Multan Golf Club) 76, 75, 75; Siddique (KGC) 76, 74, 76; Taimur Khan (Peshawar) 75, 74, 77

Senior Amateurs:

Senior Pros:

69 — Ghaffar Ahmed (Rawalpindi)

71 — Akbar Ali (Gymkhana); Akhtar Ali (Garrison)

73 — M. Iqbal (Gymkhana)

Published in Dawn, June 22nd , 2014