KARACHI: Looking eager to recapture the crown, Pakistan’s top professional golfer Mohammad Shabbir Iqbal had another solid round of four under par 68 to maintain his lead at the end of second round in the Faysal Bank 16th Sindh Open Golf Championship at Arabian Sea Country Club on Saturday.

Overnight leader Shabbir, who finished first round three shots ahead of Imdad Hussain in the 54-holes event, enhanced his lead to five strokes.

On his heels in the second place is Gujranwala’s Mohammad Safdar who pushed Imdad to third place. The former had two-day aggregate of two under 142.

Imdad is tied with Matloob Ahmed, Nisar Hussain and M. Ashfaque with one under 143.

Former champion Ghazanfar Mahmood, who lost the title last year to Salman Jehangir in a playoff, is way ahead of challenger Mohsin Zafar.

Rawalpindi’s Ghazanfar had two successive rounds of 73, 73 for two over 146 to seize a seven strokes lead.

Meanwhile, the 36-holes senior pros event ended in a two-way tie between Asghar Ali (senior) and Ghulam Nabi (senior) at one over 145.

According to Sindh Golf Association (SGA) president, Asad I. A. Khan, the play off between the two to determine champion, will be played on Sunday morning.

Besides pros, amateurs, juniors and senior amateurs, ladies and invitational match will be played on Sunday.

Leader board after second round:

Pros:

137 – Mohammad Shabbir Iqbal (Islamabad) 69, 68

142 – Mohammad Safdar (Gujranwala) 72, 70

143 –Matloob Ahmed (Gymkhana) 75, 68; Nisar Hussain (Islamabad) 72, 71; M. Ashfaque (AGC) 73, 70; Imdad Hussain (Gymkhana) 71, 72

144 – Mohammad Nazir (Islamabad) 74, 70

Senior pros (final round):

145 – Asghar Ali senior (Gymkhana) 70, 75; Ghulam Nabi senior (Gymkhana) 74, 71

Amateurs:

146 – Ghazanfar Mehmood (Rawalpindi) 73, 73

153 – Mohsin Zafar (Royal Palm) 79, 74

154 – Rofin Shamim (SGA) 75, 79

155 – M. Rehman (Royal Palm) 78, 77;

156 – Zulfiqar Ali (MGC) 77, 79; M. Zubair (SGA) 77, 79; Salman Jehangir (Gymkhana) 79, 77.

Senior amateurs:

79 – Retired Brigadier Saleem Abdullah (DHA)

85 – Retired Major Shahid Arshad (ASCC)

86 – Asad I. A. Khan (ASCC), Omar Khan Bangash (KGC)

Juniors:

74 – Saud Irfan (DHA)

77 – Shahmir Iftikhar (DHA)

80 – Junaid Irfan (KGC), Syed Azlan Shah (KGC), Saad Imtiaz (KGC).

Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2014