PESHAWAR: With 18 holes to go, Nouman Ilyas remains in the lead.
After carding 71 in each the first two rounds of the National Amateur Golf Championship, Nouman shot a 72 to move to two-under 214 at the end of the third here at the PAF Golf Course on Saturday to open up an eight-stroke lead at the top of the leaderboard.
The four-handicapper opened with a bogey but then birdied the second before another bogey followed at the third. Two back-to-back birdies followed on the next two holes before another bogey on the sixth as he wrapped up the front nine at one-over. Two birdies and a bogey on the back nine saw him finish on even-par.
Salman Jahangir’s strong back nine performance saw him emerge as Nouman’s closest rival as his 73 put him on six-over 222.
Defending champion Omar Khalid posted his best score of this year’s event as a 73 put him a stroke further adrift, level with opening day leader Mohammad Shoaib (76) heading into Sunday’s final round.
Saim Shazli (76) is at 225, two shots ahead of Hussain Hamid (73).
Humna Amjad won the two-round ladies’ contest after a 72 saw her finish on two-over 146, four shots ahead of Rimsha Ejaz (73) and six ahead of Suneyah Osama (76).
Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2021
