KARACHI: With back-to-back victories already under his belt, the energetic Shabbir Iqbal looks ahead to maintain his ascendancy and sweep the Karachi-leg of the PGF circuit when the prestigious UMA 22nd Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Open Golf Championship tees off at the picturesque Karachi Golf Club on Thursday.

This time the richest-ever golf event of the country that carries a total purse of Rs7 million, has attracted a record entries of aroun 600 players from all over Pakistan.

According to break-up, 97 pros will battle it out in the Open while 112 will compete in the amateurs. To be played over 72 holes, both the events will run concurrently from Thursday to Sunday.

Besides, there will be 36-holes senior and junior pros events on Aug 18 and 19. The ladies and juniors will vie for honours in the 18 holes contests on the penultimate day. The veteran’s will play over nine holes on Saturday.

The tee off takes place on Thursday at 7am.

Another talented golfer of the country Matloob Ahmed will defend his title in the pros. He returned with scores of 12 under 276 to register four shots victory over Shabbir who finished runner-up with eight under 280.

Former champion Ahmed had recaptured the title after 12 long years. His earlier success was in 2004.

Similarly, M. Sharif will defend his amateur crown.

Former champion Mohammad Munir, Shafiq Masih, Shahid Javed Khan, Ansar Mahmood are among other pros who can pose serious challenge to Shabbir and Matloob.

The participants have undergone a practice session at the course on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the organisers have descrbed the course as tough Two brand new cars — Toyotta Fortuner and Suzuki Ciaz — are also at stake for the first and second Holes-in-One respectively.

Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2017