LAHORE, Sept 27: Abbas Ali (Lahore Gymkhana) fired a three-under-par-69 for an aggregate of 138 (69+69) to take one-stroke lead on second day of the Bank Alfalah Quaid-i-Azam Open golf championship on Saturday.
Abbas’s consistency put him ahead but he is still threatened by Mohammad Akram, Tahir Naseem (joint leaders of the first day) and Akhtar Ali who are only one stroke behind (139) with one-day left.
Abbas played steadily and earned four birdies. He made the first birdie at a par-5’ 2nd hole and then at a difficult par-3’ 4th hole. He again had a birdie at the 7th (par-5) to complete the inward journey at three-under-34. His outward journey was even — one birdie at the 14th and bogey at the 11th.
Akram, the first day joint leader with Tahir, carded a par-72 (40+32). Having registered an early birdie at the hole 2nd-par 4, Akram faltered and suffered losses by losing a stroke each at the 4th, 5th, 7th and the 9th to complete the first nine poorly at three-over-40.
Akram, however, made some recovery while doing the last four and made three birdies without dropping a stroke it at three-under-32 to enliven his hope for the title.
Tahir, who carded five-under-67 on first day but finished at par-72 (38+34) on second day due to a double bogey at the hole No 5th’ par-4.
He did the first nine hole at one-over-38 and the back one-under-34. Tahir grabbed six birdies at the 1st, 2nd, 12th, 14th and the 15th. Besides a double bogey at the 5th, Tahir lost four more strokes at the 7th, 10th, 11th and the 13th.
Akhtar had slightly improved the position from third to second with another under-par card of 69 (34+35) to make two-day score of 139 (70+69). He scored three birdies at the outward round—-2nd, 6th and 7th and one at the inward at 18th with lone lost of stroke at the 10th.
Imdad could match the leader (Abbas), if he had not double bogeyed the 17th hole. Remaining flawless till that hole and also having earned three birdies at the 7th, 15th and the 16th, Imdad posed a threat on Abbas before he faltered in the end to finish the day at one-under-71.
Shahid Javed Khan (Nowshehra) maintained his first position in the amateur section (gross event) with two-day total of four- under-140 (69+71).
Waseem Rana (Defence) was trailing in second place with a score of one-over-145 while Aadil Jehangir (Gymkhana) and Fakhar Imam (Garrison) are struggling at the third spot at 153, leaving Mian Tariq and Shafique Bhatti at the fourth with the total 155.
Mian Tariq, a 13-handicapper, is very likely to win the net trophy as he had established a commanding lead of 12 strokes with the total of 129. Waseem Rana and Fakhar Imam are joint at 141 for the second position.
Leading second day’s scores:
Professional:
138- Abbas Ali 69,69.
139- Mohammad Akram 67,72; Tahir Naseem 67,72, Akhtar Ali 70,69.
140- Imdad Hussain 69,71; Mohammad Munir 70, 70.
141- Ansar Mehmood 71, 70.
142- Amjad Yousaf 74, 68; Matloob Ahmed 72, 70;
Afzal Mohsin 72, 70.
143- Shahid Haneef 71, 72; Ghani Khan 73, 70, Shafique Masih 71, 72.
Amateur: Gross: 140- Shahid Javed Khan 69, 71.
145- Waseem Rana (Defence)71,74.
153- Fakhar Imam 78,75; Aadil Jehangir 74, 79.
Net. 129- Mian Tariq
141- Fakhar Imam; Waseem Rana.
142- Muhammad Safdar; Shahid Javed Khan.