RAWALPINDI, Nov 20: Muhammad Munir of Islamabad Club maintained his advantage for third day running in the professional category of the PIA Classic Open Championship with a third round of par 72 at the Rawalpindi Golf Club on Saturday.

Munir finished the day with an aggregate of five under par 211, a stroke ahead of second placed Imdad Hussain and Matloob Ahmed, who were both tied at 212. Two strokes adrift were local golfers Shahid Haleem and Muhammad Sajid who carded two under 214.

Following up his rounds of 69 and 70, Munir could not fare too well and managed only two birdies, one on the par 4 first hole and then again on the par 5 15th. The PTCL golfer bogeyed twice on the front nine.

Imdad, of Lahore, in comparison had four birdies, two while going out and another two coming in. His fine round of four under 68 was his best in three days of competition.

Gymkhana's Matloob struck an eagle on the par 5 9th hole and also had two birdies on the 6th and 11th holes as he finished the day at three under par 69, improving upon his first two rounds of 71 and 72.

In the amateur net competition for the main trophy, Arshad Kundi led the field with a net score of 140 followed by Col Khatana and Maj Zia Shahid, both of whom were net 142. In third position was Islamabad's Taimur Hassan in 143 net.

On the gross side, Taimur stayed ahead with a round of 75 for an aggregate of 145 over two days. Shahid Javed, three strokes behind on 148 was in second place while Muhammad Hashim and Moeed Yousaf were tied for third spot on 154.

Shahzadi Gulfam was in front in the ladies net event with a score of 149, well ahead of second placed Tahira Nazir who was on net 156 while Mehwish Javed carded 158 in two days.

With a score of 170 each, Jamila Jabbar and Tahira Nazir were the joint leaders in the gross competition. They were followed by Shahzadi Gulfam and Tehmina Ahmed who had scores of 177 each.