RAWALPINDI, Sept 15: Shaukat Ali led amongst senior professionals with a score of 76 while Lt. Col. (r) M. Jamil Khalid occupied first place with a card of 78 in senior amateurs category on the opening day of the four-day COAS Open Golf Championship at Rawalpindi Golf Club on Thursday.

Two other events — juniors and subsidiary — also got underway with Hamza Ali of Islamabad (78) and Maqsood Waraich of Rawalpindi (81) emerging as the leaders.

The main events of professionals and amateurs will roll off on Friday. The professionals will have a total Rs. half a million up for grabs in prize money while title trophy will go to the three- round top-scorer in amateurs net.

The 67 participating amateurs will have handicap of 12 and below while professionals from around the country will number 77 in the championship.—APP