RAWALPINDI, March 24: Karachi’s Javed Inayet carded two under par 70 on Friday to take a one-stroke lead in the professional category of the Prime Minister Gold Medal Open Championship at the Rawalpindi Golf Club.

Trailing Javed were five others who were tied at one under par 71 among them the defending champion Matloob Ahmed of Lahore Gymkhana.

Besides Matloob, others close on the heels of Javed were Mohammad Arif, Sajjad Khan, Akhtar Ali and Shabbir Iqbal.

In the first 18 holes of the amateurs net competition, on the basis of which the title winner will be decided, Umer Farooq with a card of three under 69 led the field and was a stroke ahead of second placed Brig. Khalid.

Following Farooq and Khalid were Ijaz Ahad, Shahid Warraich, Haider Attique and Inyatullah, all of them on 71.

Wasim Rana was ahead in the amateurs gross event with a score of 74 while Tariq Mahmood was a stroke behind on 75 with Ijaz Ahad following in third place at 76.

The professionals and the amateurs events are to be contested over 54 holes each and opened on the second day of the championship.

Prizes of Rs400,000 are being offered in the professionals and senior professionals categories.