KARACHI: After regaining back-to-back titles on trot in the Karachi-leg of the circuit, Pakistan’s ace golfer Mohammad Shabbir Iqbal appears optimistic to complete hat-trick when the compete in the 54-holes sixth Independence Day Open Golf Championship which tees off at the Defence Authority Country and Golf Club on Friday.

The event, which carries a lucrative prize money of rupees two million, will see around 200 golfers across the country vying for honours in different categories.

The 37-year-old Shabbir first dethroned Karachi Golf Club’s Waheed Baloch to win back the CNS Open crown in June and later added the Sindh Open title to his tally on Sunday.

Though defending champion Shabbir’s recent performance is an indicator that he will sweep, however, he has to overcome stiff challenge from contemporaries Mohammad Munir, Matloob Ahmed, Imdad Hussain to name a few.

The trio of Waseem Rana, Ghazanfar Mahmood and holder Zohaib Asif are likely to be front runners in the amateurs.

Besides pros and amateurs, other events that will take place include senior pros, senior amateurs, juniors under-18, masters under-14, ladies and veterans.

According to organisers, the first pros flight tees off at 7.30am.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2014