ISLAMABAD, Sept 19: Askari Raza Malik, a 14 handicapper led the field in the senior amateur net category Thursday, the opening day of the Chief of the Army Staff Open Championship at the Rawalpindi Golf Course.

Askari, of the Rawalpindi Golf Club, carded a net score of 72 to finish the day two strokes ahead of Islamabad Club’s Ejaz Sadozai (8) and Brig Abdus Salam Akhtar (15) both of whom had 74 net.

Following them closely were Fasih Ali Anwar (6) and Ali Akbar (14) who had identical scores of 75.

Fasih was however ahead in the seniors gross competition with a score of 81 while Maj Ejaz Sadozai was close on his heels at 82. Abdul Gahfoor Raja was on 84 while Askari was two strokes behind at 86.

Akbar Ali and Muhammad Shafique, both from Lahore Gymkhana were tied for lead in the senior professionals category being played over 36 holes. They had a score of 79 each with 39 while going out and 40 when coming back.

In second place was Shaukat Ali, also of Lahore Gymkhana, at 80 and Rawalpindi’s Muhammad Rafiq with a score of 83 was third.

Salman Jahangir meanwhile was the leader of the juniors net competition with a score of 62 followed by Muhammad Umar Khokhar and Bilal Tariq who jointly occupied the second spot at 64 while Haider Attiq trailed in third place with 65.

Umar Khokhar, with 85 gross led the juniors gross event followed by Haider Attiq of Rawalpindi Golf Club at 89.

The real competitions however will begin Friday when as many as 64 amateurs having handicap of 12 and below will tee off for the main trophy to be decided on a net score. The professionals too, 56 of them, will be fighting for a first prize of Rs 43,000 out of total purse of Rs 300,000 put up by sponsors Muslim Commercial Bank.