PESHAWAR, April 7: Defending champion Shabbir Iqbal and promising Shahid Javed Khan shared the opening day lead with a round of 66 in the 28th CAS Open Golf Championship, which got under way over 54-holes at PAF Golf Course on Friday.

Consistent winner Shabbir carded 66, six under par with 32 at front nine and 34 at back nine by scoring seven birdies and missed two strokes at holes no. 5 and 13. Recently turned pro-Shahid carded 32, at front nine and 34 at back nine with six birdies and missed a stroke at hole no. 10.

Among pros 19 played under and 22 were par over 18-holes.

With a stroke difference, Latif Masih with a round of 67, five under par. He carded 33 at front and 34 at back nine by scoring birdies at 1, 6, 9, 10, 11 and 12 holes. They were followed by M.

Tahir 69, three under, and shared the third position with Amjad Yousaf, Shahid Haleem and M. Siddique.

In Amateur (0-12) HCP, Mohammad Safdar (HCP-0) was the leader with the gross score 71, 36 at front and 35 at back nine. He had four birdies and suffered a double boggy at par-4 hole no. 15 besides missing a stroke at nine.

Arbab Usman (72), Waseem Rana (74), Mehmood Aziz (76), Iqbal Wali, Abdu-Bin-Zahid, Saud Khan, Mushtaq Hussain 77 each, Tahir Mehmood (79) and Dr Ali Haider (80) were other leading golfers.

The subsidiary matches of (13-18) HCP over 36 holes including boys, veterans (55 years and above) ladies and pro-veterans (50 and above) will be held on Saturday and Sunday.—APP