RAWALPINDI, May 10: Muhammad Tariq of PTCL maintained his lead in the professional category of the Prime Minister of Pakistan Gold Medal Championship on Saturday with a round of two over par 74 at the Rawalpindi Golf Club.

With a modest round he stayed two strokes ahead of Shabbir Iqbal of Islamabad who carded one under 71 for the day for an aggregate of 143.

Going into Sunday’s final day, it is going to be an engrossing tussle between these two golfers with Tariq having to hit the ball much straighter if he nourishes hopes of winning this championship. Shabbir on the other had owes his position to some consistent hitting.

Shahid Javed Khan, the country’s top amateur, who was in second place in the gross competition, took over the lead from Vaqas Ahmed aggregating 140 over two days.

He had a round of two under par 70 as Vaqas of the host club slipped to second spot with one over 73 finishing with an aggregate total of 142. Adil Jahangir on 147 occupied third position.

Omer Imtiaz was the leader in the amateur net tournament carding net 65 to have a total of 137 heading into the last day of competition. There was a tie for second place between Aadil Jahangir and Tariq Ali Chaudhry who were four strokes behind the leader.

Aadil with a total of 141 finished the day on 69 after his opening day’s score of three over par 72 while Tariq was 72 for the day. Vaqas Ahmed and Shahid Javed Khan were joint third aggregating 142.

The net tournament for seniors was won by Brig Pervez Asghar Mian having a round of net 69 while Maj. Gen (Retd) Masud Kiani was second and M. Sadiq Ch. third.

Maj Ijaz Sadozaie took the honours in the seniors gross event claiming the title with a gross score of 82, Fariduddin was second and SF Hadi third in the competition.

Mrs Tahira Nazir was ahead with a score of 82 in the gross event while Miss Jamila Jabbar was a stroke behind and Miss Rubab Haider was on 85, in third place.

The net event saw Miss Rubab Haider in the lead with net 67 followed by Miss Allen (69) and Miss Uzma Nazir (72).