KARACHI: On yet another windy day, Shabbir Iqbal showed unwavering consistency.

For a third successive round at the Airmen Golf Course, Pakistan’s top professional golfer shot a three-under 69 and now heads into Sunday’s final round with a six-stroke lead; a successful title defence at the CAS Open very much on the horizon.

Just like in the second round, Shabbir went bogey-free on Saturday as he opened the round by firing birdies on the first and the third holes and then getting another on the start of the back nine to move to nine-under 207 overall.

First-round leader Mohammad Alam, who was four adrift of Shabbir overnight, remains his closest challenger after a 71. He is two strokes clear of Mohammad Zubair, whose return of 70 took him to 215.

Mohammad Shehzad fired the day’s best of six-under 66 — getting seven birdies in total, including an incredible run of five straight from the 11th hole onwards — but that only took him to 216 alongside Hamza Amin (71). They are a shot ahead of a group of three that comprises former champions Ahmed Baig (71) and Matloob Ahmed (74) as well as Mohammad Amir (73).

Mohammad Nazir (70) is at 218, followed by a group of three a shot adrift that includes his brother Mohammad Munir, whose title hopes seem well and truly over after a 75.

Two weeks ago, Munir had seen Shabbir rally from a six-stroke deficit to win the CNS Open in a thrilling playoff to hold on to his title. Last week, Shabbir relinquished his Sindh Open crown but he will take some stopping if he’s to be denied at the CAS Open.

Yashal Shah, meanwhile, put himself in pole position for the amateurs’ crown with 18 holes to play after he moved four shots in front following a third-round 73 that took him to 10-over 226 overall.

Omar Khalid (75) and Arslan Shikoh Khan (77) are his closest challengers while Mohammad Arsalan (74) is two shots further behind at 232.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2023