LAHORE: Ahmad Baig, a 19-year-old golfer from Pakistan has emerged as the first-day leader in the Under-21 age category of the three-day Nick Faldo Series Golf Final, which commenced at the Laguna Lang Co Golf Course in Vietnam, according to a message received from Asad I.A.Khan manager of the three member Pakistan boys and two members’ girls team.

Trained and groomed at the Garrison Golf Club in Lahore, Ahmed showed his ability and mettle and stood out. During the first round, he hit the ball really well on all the par fours and par fives and his average distance was 300 yards. His score for the first day was 67, which saw him gain a two-shot lead over Indonesia’s Kevin Caesario and three over Japan’s Hayato Yoshida. Others close to the top are Nepal’s Sukra Rai (72) amd Singapore’s Nathan Tan (74).

Pakistan’s Saqib Tufail is eighth in the Under-18 category after he posted 78. New Zealand’s Hiroki Miya (64) leads that category ahead of American Jairus Gaines (70).

Pakistan are further behind in the Under-16 event with Damil Ataullah’s 80 seeing him sit 19th after the opening round where England’s Joshua Hill seized the lead with a 67.

In the girls’ event Pakistan’s Aania Farooq’s 82 saw her placed 10th while Hamna Amjad is 17th, one shot behind her compatriot.

Published in Dawn, March 2nd, 2018