LAHORE, March 1: Abbas Ali of Lahore Gymkhana fired a round of two-under-70 to emerge as the sole leader on the first day of Pro event of the fifth Faysal Bank Open golf tournament at the Lahore Gymkhana course Friday.
Abbas, despite intermittent rain, did excellent putting throughout the day, in a competition in which the country’s top golfers are taking part.
He started his campaign brilliantly and completed the first nine holes at one-under-36, with a birdie at fifth. Abbas faltered on his inward ways and bogeyed the 10th and encountered difficulty 14th.
But he held his nerve and repaired the damage by registering three consecutive birdies at the 15th, 16th and the 17th before ending the day with a par at the last hole.
One stroke behind Abbas were fancied Matloob Ahmad (LG), Ghulam Nabi (LG), and Muhammad Sajid (PTV) in second position.
Mutloob completed the first nine at par-37. He improved further when he did the last nine at one-under-34. Matloob earned birdies at the second, third, 15th and the 18th. He lost strokes at the first, ninth and the 17th.
Ghulam Nabi, eight times winner of the Pakistan Open, completed the first nine commendably at one-under-35 with three birdies at the first, second and the eighth and one bogey at the sixth. He returned back cautiously and made a birdie at the final hole and did not lose any stroke.
At one-over-par 73, are Akhtar Ali (39+34), Irfan (37+36), Amjad Yousaf (36+37), Muhammad Tariq (37+36), Muhammad Tariq (37+36) and Joseph John (37+36) were in fourth spot. position.
In the amateur sections, Shahid Javed Khan posted a card of one-under-71 (35+36) to occupy the first spot. He had birdied at the sixth, seventh and the 16th while lost strokes at the 11th and the 17th.
Ghazanfar Mehmood, however, stole the limelight as performed the distinction of Hole-in-One at the three-par three to become the first claimant of a car at the stake. But Ghazanfar will wait for the prize till he got himself declared as a professional player. If any professional will perform the same feat in the remaining two days, Ghazanfar will not be the candidate for that prize.
Ghazanfar at par-72 was the joint candidate for the second position with Nadeem Abbas (Rawalpindi).
Ghazanfar (35+37) also had one birdie at the 16th while lost strokes at the 14th, 15th and the 18th.
Nadeem Abbas (36+36) earned an eagle at the par-five second and birdies at the 8th and the 12th. He lost stroke at the third, 11th, 13th and the 15th.
In the two-day net ladies competition, Ayesha Amin and Mumtaz Kiani both of the Lahore Gymkhana are occupying the first and second position.
PROFESSIONAL:
70- Abbas Ali (LG).
71- Mutloob Ahmed, Ghulam Nabi, Muhammad Sajid
72- A. Hameed, Manzoor Ahmed, Imdad Hussain
73- Akhtar Ali, Irfan, Amjad Yousaf, Muhammad Tariq, Joseph John.
AMATEUR:
71-Shahid Javed Khan
72- Ghazanfar Mahmood, Nadeem Abbas
74-Tipu Salahuddin Beg. 77- Adil Jehangir, Omer Tiwana, Zeeshan Ali.
LADIES (NET)
1. Ayesha Amin
2. Mumtaz Kiani.