KARACHI: A persistent back problem has hampered Mohammad Ashfaq’s rise to the top table of Pakistan golf.

But on Saturday at the Defence Authority Country & Golf Club, the mercurial talent showed exactly why he remains one of the most exciting golfers on the local circuit when he finds his range.

With a bogey-free 65, Ashfaq took a three-shot lead in the opening round of the DHA Karachi Cup All Pakistan Golf Championship as he hopes to lift a major title since winning the CNS Open in 2017.

“I’ve begun to overcome the nagging back problem which has cost me dear at several tournaments in the past,” Ashfaq told Dawn, when asked about his inability to live up to his promising talent.

“I’m happy with my driving and putting. All in all, everything went well for me and I hope I can carry on this way.”

Opening with a birdie, Ashfaq really got into the groove with birdies on the sixth, seventh and eighth holes. He then added further birdies on the 12th, 15th and 18th holes.

Mohammad Alam hit five birdies but a bogey on the final hole meant he finished at four-under 68 and with a two-stroke advantage over Mohammad Saeed.

Saeed hit four birdies on the front nine but managed none on the back nine to stay one shot ahead of a group of nine golfers that includes big-hitters Shabbir Iqbal, Matloob Ahmed, Mohammad Munir, Ahmed Baig and Waheed Baloch.

Shabbir won the Sindh Open last week but will have his work cut out as he seeks to win a second tournament in two weeks after managing just one birdie in a bogey-free round.

In the amateurs’ tournament, Hamza Ghani has a narrow one-shot lead over Yashal Shah after he shot a 76. Hamza Shikoh Khan and Maj Mohammad Irfan Khan are tied for third on 79.

Omar Khalid, who created history by becoming the youngest winner at the National Amateur Championship at the start of this month, is a long way back at 85.

Also, Nabeel shot a 70 to take a four-shot lead over Abdul Wadood and Akash in the junior professionals’ competition.

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2021