KARACHI, Aug 1: Shabbir Iqbal, oozing with confidence, set the early pace in the Sindh Open MCB golf championship Thursday by firing a six-under 66 to grab the lead after first round.

Shabbir, who last week won the CNS golf championship, made eight birdies and two bogeys. His six birdies came on the front-nine while his back-nine had mixed fortunes.

Shabbir dropped strokes on the 358-yard par-four 10th and 150-yard par-three 13th on an otherwise flawless display.

Shabbir was leading Sajjad Khan, who just one stroke behind after carding a bogey-free five-under 67.

Sajjad notched up four birdies on the front-nine, including three in the first four holes, and completed an excellent day with a birdie at the 156-yard par-three 17th.

There was a two-way tied for the third place between Mohammad Munir and Talib Hussain who carded four-under 68 while three players —Akhtar Ali, Karam Hussain and Waheed Baloch — were locked at three-under 69 and share of fifth place.

Imdad Hussain, who finished second in the CNS golf championship one stroke behind Shabbir, was four shots behind the leader after a round of two-under 70.

In the amateurs, Vaqas Ahmad carded three-under 69 to take the an early lead. Shahid Javed Khan was a stroke behind while Adil Jahangir was in sole possession of third place after his round of even-par.

In the 36-hole juniors, Omair Javed shot a two-over 74 while Abdul Rahim carded 77.

Leading scores after first round (par-72):

66 — Shabbir Iqbal.

67 — Sajjad Khan.

68 — Mohammad Munir, Talib Hussain.

69 — Akhtar Ali, Karam Hussain, Waheed Baloch.

70 — Mohammad Tahir, Shafiq Masih, Matloob Ahmad, Ijaz Gul, Imdad Hussain, Pervez Khan, Abbas Ali, Abdul Jabbar.

71 — Mohammad Irfan, Nazir Khan, Mohammad Sadiq, Ansar Mahmood.

72 — Ahmad Saeed, Ghani Khan, Ghulam Hussain, Afsar Ali, Amjad Yousuf, Noor Din.