KARACHI: Eagles soared once again at the Karachi Golf Club again on a cloudy Friday, where Mohammad Zubair went bogey-free to open up a two-stroke lead by the end of a gripping second round of the CNS Open Golf Championship.

The top four from the opening round remained unchanged, only shifting positions on the leaderboard, but unlike Thursday when seven of the top eight fired eagles on one particular hole, they were fewer in number — and on separate holes.

Minhaj Maqsood Warraich, tied for second with Pakistan number one Shabbir Iqbal, got one on the par-5 10th hole, while Matloob Ahmed, a stroke further adrift, fired one on the par-four 12th.

The eagles helped both to stay close to Zubair, who got two birdies each across the front and back nines for a four-under 68 that moved him to 10-under 134 with 36 holes to go.

Shabbir, whose run of four successive titles at the event was ended by Ahmed Baig last year, shot six birdies in his 68 to move level on 136 with Minhaj (69). Matloob also fired a 69 and he is four strokes ahead of Mohammad Munir (69) at 141. Mohammad Amir (72) is on 142 overall, one shot ahead of Ali Sher (70).

Defending his crown, Ahmed finds himself 10 shots off the lead after he could only manage a one-over 73 to be tied at 144 with Zubair Hussain (69), Tallat Ijaz (71) and Mohammad Ashfaq (75).

Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2025