KARACHI: It’s all set up to be a nerve-jangling final round at the CAS Open on Sunday.

Shabbir Iqbal surged to the top of the leaderboard after the third round at the Airmen Golf Club on Saturday.

But he’s just clinging on to the lead.

Shabbir hit two birdies but only managed a par 72, to end on three-under 213, a shot ahead of Mohammad Ashfaq (72) and two ahead of Mohammad Munir (69).

Hamza Amin, the joint overnight leader with Shabbir returned with a 75 and is now joint-fourth with Matloob Ahmed (70) on 216.

Waheed Baloch matched Munir for the day’s best of 69, the joint first-round leader five shots adrift.

Ahmed Baig faces an uphill struggle if he’s to retain the title as he fell nine shots behind after a 73.

The amateurs’ title was decided on Saturday, with Saim Shazli upsetting national champion Omar Khalid to win courtesy a better final-round score after both finished on 239.

Saim had a 77 in the final round after Omar could only manage a 80, with a double-bogey on the last hole denting his chances of winning another title following his triumph at the National Amateur Championship last month.

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2021