KARACHI: Five players shot a brilliant three under par 69 to share first round lead in the 19th Sindh Open Golf Championship which teed off at the Arabian Sea Country Club (ASCC) on Friday.

The five include M. Asif, M.Safdar, M. Nazeer, Matloob Ahmed and Shafiq Masih.

On their heels, a stroke away at two under 70, are another five golfers namely Mohammad Zubair, Lateef Rafiq, Adil Jahangir, M. Khalid and Nadeem Inayat. The latter, who lives in Thailand, has specially arrived to compete in the event.

Country’s eminent golfer Shabbir Iqbal started his title defence campaign while carding one under 71 in the first round. He is tied in the third place with eight others — M. Alam, Ashir Masih, Shahid Javed Khan, M. Siddiq, M. Munir, Imran Ali Khan, Waheed Baloch and M. Ashfaq.

There are five players who played a par round and include M. Afzal, M. Tariq, M. Rizwan, Hashmat Khan and Kamran Shafiq.

But the day revolved around noted amateur golfer Ghazanfar Mahmood, who shot best card of the day of four under 68. His scores envisaged seven birdies on holes 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11 and 17. However, he had two bogeys on back nine at holes 15 and 18

He has seized a four shot lead over Zohaib Asif who shot a par round.

Meanwhile, Nasir Masih fired one under 71 to grab a one shot lead over Minhaj Maqsood in the 36-holes junior pros.

The golfers experienced windy conditions and found front nine easier than the back nine.

Leader board after first round:

Pros:

69 — M. Asif (Defence Raya Golf Club), M. Safdar (Gujranwala), M. Nazeer (Islamabad), Matloob Ahmed (Lahore Gymkhana), Shafiq Masih (Lahore Gymkhana).

70 — Mohammad Zubair (Islamabad), Lateef Rafiq (Lahore Gymkhana), Adil Jahangir (Lahore Gymkhana), M. Khalid (DHA), Nadeem Inayat (Thailand/KGC).

71 — M. Alam (Defence Raya Golf Club), Ashir Masih (Lahore Gymkhana), Shahid Javed Khan (Lahore Gymkhana), M. Siddiq (Faisalabad), M. Munir (Islamabad), Shabbir Iqbal (Islamabad), Imran Ali Khan (DHA), Waheed Baloch (KGC), M. Ashfaq (Airmen Golf Club).

72 — M. Afzal (Hyderabad), M. Tariq (Islamabad), M. Rizwan (Lahore Gymkhana), Hashmat Khan (DHA), Kamran Shafiq (Railways).

Junuior pros:

71 — Nasir Masih (Garrison)

72 — Minhaj Maqsood (Rawalpindi)

74 — Zeeshan Ali (Arabian Sea Country Club)

76 — Nadeem Almas (DHA)

77 — Mohammad Jan (Arabian Sea Country Club)

78 — Wali Mohammad (Arabian Sea Country Club), Bilal Hussain (Mangla)

Amateurs:

68 — Ghazanfar Mahmood (Bahria Golf Club)

72 — Zohaib Asif (DHA)

73 — Mohammad Rehman (Royal Palm Golf Club), M. Ziaraf (Abottabad)

75 — M. Sharif (West Wind Golf Club), Robin Bagh (Gymkhana)

76 — Khalid Hussain (DHA), Raja M. Israr (Bahria Golf Club), Taimur Khan (Peshawar), Arsalan Sheikoh Khan (Kamra).

Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2017