KARACHI: Fresh from his triumph in the 19th Sindh Open, eminent golfer and defending champion Shabbir Iqbal sets his sight for a double with a brilliant seven under par 65 to share the first round lead with Ansar Mahmood in the UBL ninth Independence Day Cup Open Golf Championship which teed off at the Defence Authority Country and Golf Club (DAC&GC) on Friday.

Despite tough conditions due to winds, the country’s most celebrated golfer played a bogey-free round to maintain his high standard of game.

He delighted the fraternity by scoring eight birdies on holes 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 16 and 17 besides regular pars.

Ansar also hogged the first round limelight while carding the similar score to stay in contention for the title. His outstanding scores envisaged seven birdies on holes 3, 5, 8, 12, 15, 16 and 17, an eagle on the fourth and two bogeys on the 10th and 14th holes.

The pair has gained a four-shot lead over Shahid Javed Khan who returned with three under 69.

There’s a three-way tie in the third place at two under 70 between Mohammad Sohail, M. Safdar and Matloob Ahmed.

Similarly, three players Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Khalid and Shahbaz Masih are tied at one under 71.

A shot away at par 72 are Shafiq Masih and Talib Hussain.

Meanwhile, Ghazanfar Mahmood fired one over 73 to lead the pack of golfers in the amateurs category which is played concurrently.

Mahmood, winner of the recently held Sindh Open, should curse himself for two bogeys on holes 1st, and 9th and a double bogey on the 18th. He scored three birdies on the 4th, 8th and 15th holes.

On his heels are two golfers of the host club – the DHA – holder Zohaib Asif at two over 74 and Abdullah Nasir at three over 75.

The 36-holes junior pros begins on Saturday.

Leader board after first round:

Pros:

65 — Shabbir Iqbal (Islamabad); Ansar Mahmood (Islamabad)

69 — Shahid Javed Khan (Lahore Gymkhana)

70 — Mohammad Sohail (Margalla Greens); M. Safdar (Gujranwala); Matloob Ahmed (Garrison)

71 — Mohammad Rizwan (Lahore Gymkhana); Mohammad Khalid (DHA); Shahbaz Masih (KGC)

72 — Shafiq Masih (Lahore Gymkhana); Talib Hussain (Islamabad)

Amateurs:

73 — Ghazanfar Mahmood (Bahria Golf Club)

74 — Zohaib Asif (DHA)

75 — Abdullah Nasir (DHA).

Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2017