RAWALPINDI, Oct 22: Maj (Retd) Asad Zahoor emerged the new leader with a net score of 138 on day two of the President of Pakistan Cup Tournament here at the Rawalpindi Golf Club Monday.

Asad, a 13-handicap player, matched his Sunday’s performance of 82 and played an identical round. Without recording a single birdie, he lost strokes on eight holes and double bogeyed once on hole No. 5.

Lt. Col (Retd) Munir Haider Malik of the host club was close on the heels of Asad with a net score of 139. Munir has a handicap of nine strokes.

Three players, including overnight leader Saleem Akram, shared third place. Besides Saleem (eight handicap), Maj. Gen (Retd) Askari Raza Malik with a 14 handicap and Azhar Azam (15 handicap) all carded a net score of 141 each.

Vaqas Ahmed tightened his grip in the gross competition carding an impressive round of two under par 70 to take a commanding seven strokes lead.

Vaqas, who finished the first day at a disappointing four over par, made amends and fired three birdies on the back nine - holes 10, 13 and 17. Although he had a bogey on the front nine, his overall score of 146 in the gross event was enough to separate him from Kamal Ibrahim and Sameer Iftikhar, who were joint second with 153 each.

Saleem Akram, who was sharing the overnight lead in the gross event with Vaqas, moved to joint third with Munir as he carded a poor round of 81 and ended up with 157.

There was a close fight in the ladies gross competition which began Monday. Mrs Heidi Schirmer of Islamabad Club led the field of six with a score of 81. A stroke behind was Ms. Mehvish Javed of Rawalpindi Club while Tahira Nazir was third with 83.

Mrs. Schirmer enjoys a six-stroke lead in the net event with a score of 65. Ms. Mehvish and Ms Rubab shared the second spot with 71 while Mrs Afzal Shami (75) was in third place.

In the seniors gross event, Lt. Col (Retd) Muhammad Safi led with 77 while AVM Abbas Mirza was second with 78. Brig (Retd) Maqsoodul Hassan (69) enjoyed a one-stroke lead over Brig (Retd) Akhtar in the net event.

Master Haider Ateeq (127) moved closer to winning the juniors net event as he had a big lead of 15 strokes over Master Osama (142) of the PAF Golf Club, Islamabad.

Haider’s club-mate, Master Ali Khanzada (189) had a four- stroke lead in the juniors’ gross event over Master W. Shakeel (139).