KARACHI, Dec 27: Defending champion M. Shabbir Iqbal from the Pakistan Navy, lying in the doldrums at No.16 grossing 147, displayed his true colours on Saturday, grabbing the top spot helped on with seven birdies to score a 7 under par 65, grossing a total of 212 to tie with overnight leader Amjad Yousuf in the third round of the Caltex 36th Open Golf championship at the Karachi Golf Club.

Overnight leader Amjad Yousuf with 71 and a four under par 69 to gross 140 on the second day, finished on par 72 with only two birdies to his credit due to the heavy wind blowing across the course, but yet managed to retain the top spot with M. Shabbir, who also has a gross score of 212. M. Muneer who had a bad day on Friday lying at No.20 grossing 148, staged a marvellous recovery to regain his No.4 spot with three under par 69, laced with five birdies grossing 217.

Mohammad Tariq from the Islamabad Golf Club moved up the ladder into the third spot with a two under par 70 to gross 217, while Pakistan’s celebrated golfer Taimur Hussain eighth the previous evening moved one step ahead coming back with three over par 75, although he did manage two birdies apiece on the upper and lower nine.

Ali Haji led the amateurs after the third day with a gross score of 218. Railways Vaqas Ahmed was second with 224, ahead of Tariq Mehmood (226) and Shahid Javed Khan (227). Talented Mohammad Ali Hai having a horrible opening day was fifth, grossing 231, but trailing the leader by 12 strokes.

In the Inter Provincial championship, Sindh stole the lead from Punjab and are just one stroke ahead going into the fourth day. With Ali Haji grossing 218, Mohammad Ali Hai grossing 231, Lt. Cdr. Ansar Mehmood 238, Sindh were in front grossing 687 to Punjab’s 688, with Vaqas Ahmed 224, Shahid Javed Khan 227 and Javed A. Khan 238.

NWFP were third with a gross score of 712, through Col. Saud Khan (238), Captain Khushal Khan (238) and Dr. Aimal Zaman (240).

Balochistan was fourth with gross 736 through Karrar Hussain 241, Younus Haider Changazi (242) and Mushtaq Hussain (253).

Leading third round scores:

212 M. Shabbir 70, 77, 65.

212 Amjed Yosuf 71, 69, 72.

214 Mohammad Tariq 74, 70, 70.

217 Mohammad Muneer 73, 75, 69.

218 Matloob Ahmed 72, 72, 74.

218 M. Tahir Naseem 71, 72, 75.

219 Javed Inayat 71, 73, 75.

219 Taimur Hussain 73, 71, 75.

220 Nadeem Inayat 69, 74, 77.

220 M. Javed 77, 73, 70.

Amateurs gross

218 Ali Haji 77, 71, 70.

224 Vaqas Ahmed 74, 74, 76.

226 Tariq Mehmood 73, 77, 76.

227 Shahid Javed Khan 78, 75, 74.

231 Mohammad Ali Hai 81, 74, 76.

233 Sajjid Jamil 80, 75, 78.

233 Wasim Rana 79, 75, 79.

236 Omair Javed 77, 79, 80.

237 Tariq Alam 81, 79, 77

237 M. Safdar 82, 75, 80.