LAHORE, Oct 18: Shabbir Iqbal (Islamabad) and Mohammad Akram (Lahore Gymkhana) fired identical card of six-under-66 to jointly emerged as the leaders of the hotly-contested first day of the All-Pakistan Open Garrison golf championship professional event at the Lahore Garrison course Friday.

Shabbir could have taken a solo flight if he had not lost a stroke at par-3 hole No 4. But from there onwards. He braced the game and earned five birdies and one eagle to hand over an excellent card of 66.

Shabbir completed the outer way at one under-35 with birdies at the 5th and the 6th besides a bogey at the 4th.

Akram, in contrast, played the outer round remarkably at four-under 32 grabbing birdies at the 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 7th. But he could earn only two birdies while coming back and that at the 12th and 14th to finish the flawless opening day.

One stroke away to the leaders Abbas Ali (Wapda) was occupying second spot. The significant feature of Ali day’s proceeding that he did not lose any stroke.

In the amateur gross section, no golfer could produce a card of at par-72 or below as Zulfiqar Ali with two over-74 was the leader.

Murad A Khan (75) was at the second position. Sardar Murad and Javed A Khan (76 each) were at the third position.

In the net section, the 12-handicapper Qamar-ul-Haq with the score of 66 was the first day leader.

In the Senior professional event, Akbar Ali (Lahore Gymkhana) is leading with 73.

First round scores:

Professionals:

66 — Mohammad Akram (Lahore Gymkhana), Shabbir Iqbal (Islamabad).

67 — Abbas Ali (Wapda).

68 — Irfan Mahmood (Rawalpindi).

70 — Abdul Jabbar (U-fone), Ansar Mehmood (Rawalpindi).

71 — Talib Hussain, Matloob Ahmed (Railways), Tahir Naseem (Wapda).

72 — Imdad Hussain (Garrison), M. Siddique (Faisalabad).

Amateurs (gross):

74 — Zulfiqar Ali.

75 — Murad A. Khan.

76 — Sardar Murad, Javed A. Khan.

Amateurs (net):

66 — Qamar-ul-Haq (12).

67 — Shahid Imtiaz (12).

69 — Brig Anwaar (19).

70 — Major Nisar (18), Shakil Ahmed (7), Saleem Raza (8).

Senior professionals:

73 — Akbar Ali (Gymkhana).

76 — Shafique (Railways).