KARACHI: Shabbir Iqbal has all but sealed a third successive successful title defence in three weeks.

The Pakistan number one matched his own course record, set last year at the Airmen Golf Course, on Sunday when he fired a staggering eight-under 64 to open up an eight-shot lead at the CAS Open with 18 holes to play.

Having defended his Sindh Open and Pakistan Open titles in the last two weeks, Shabbir moved to 12-under 204 overall at the end of the third round with Ansar Mehmood (69) closest to him.

Ahmed Baig (71), a winner two year ago, is third overall at three-under, two clear of Mohammad Shahzad (72). A group of five, including former champion Matloob Ahmed, is at 216.

Matloob (71) is level with Rehmatullah (68), Usman Ali (71) and Mohammad Zubair (72). They’re a shot clear of another group of four that includes Mohammad Munir (73) and Minhaj Warraich (73).

But the form Shabbir is in, and the confidence with which he’s playing in, it will require each of his chasers to play out of their skins in order to thwart his bid for a 196th career title.

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2022