KARACHI: A year later, not much seems to have changed. On the opening day of the Faldo Series Pakistan Championship, all signs pointed towards yet another tussle for the overall title between Ahmed Baig and Mohammad Saqib Tufail.

Defending champion Saqib trailed last year’s runner-up Ahmed by five strokes after Friday’s first round at the Defence Authority Country and Golf Club (DACGC) and has a three-shot lead over third-placed Junaid Irfan.

While they compete in separate age-group categories, it’s not about just winning the section for the leading duo. It’s about winning the overall title.

Ahmed, competing in the Under-21 category this time, has clinched the Under-18 crown on the last two occasions. During the same time, Saqib — now competing in the Under-18 — has been the Under-16 champion while clinching the overall title last year.

And having struck six birdies, including one on the famed eighth hole, in a bogey-free round to post a 66, Ahmed was hoping to retain his lead over the next two days.

“It’s the overall title I want,” he told Dawn on Friday. “I had a good day today and the shots came off well so I’m hoping to make the advantage count.”

Saqib only had one birdie less than his rival but four bogeys meant he ended the round at one-under.

“That’s what the game is all about,” he told Dawn, referring to the bogeys. “I’ll need to improve on today’s performance to catch up on Ahmed.”

The added worry for Saqib is that Junaid, competing in Under-18, is within touching distance. For Ahmed, meanwhile, the closest rival in his category is Syed Saim Shazli Azhar who shot a 75 and is fourth overall.

Hamza Shikoh Khan, in the Under-18, is a further stroke behind in fifth.

OMAR SHINES

Two-time Girls’ Under-21 defending champion Aania Farooq shot a 76 to grab a four-shot lead on Ramsha Ijaz.

But the surprise performance of the day came from Omar Khalid in the Boys’ U-16 category, the spectacled 13-year-old shooting a 77 to grab a share of the lead with Damil Attaullah.

Omar, a student of eighth standard, was on par after the front nine and even managed an eagle on the 14th but ended five over after an entertaining first round.

“The pressure of keeping the lead got to me on the final few holes where I missed some easy putts,” he told Dawn. “That’s what I’ll work on.”

If he manages to lift the Under-16 crown, Omar could earn himself a place in the four-member Paki­stan team at the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final in Vietnam.

Saqib and Ahmed, who have already played as the Asia Finals, say the event was of fundamental importance to their growth as golfers.

“Playing at the Asia Finals offers our players a great chance to learn about the international standard of the game,” Sindh Golf Association (SGA) president Asad I.A. Khan, who will be the manager for the Pakistan team at the Asia Finals, said.

Published in Dawn, January 6th, 2018