ISLAMABAD, March 28: Top golfers are set to compete in the 21st edition of President of Pakistan Gold Medal Golf tournament that tees off Saturday at the Islamabad Club.

Local man Shabbir Iqbal will defend his title in the professional category to be played over 54 holes. Ghazanfar Mahmood was the winner of the amateur title last year while Uzma Nazir had claimed the women’s prize.

A prize purse of Rs300,000 is on offer in the professional event, with the winner pocketing Rs71,000 besides the gold medal. Gold medals will also be awarded to top amateur and women golfers.

A qualifying round to pick the best 21 players is to be held Friday who will join the top 21 to make a pack of 42 for the main round.

Besides Shabbir, the other big names among the professionals are Ghulam Nabi, Imdad Hussain, Matloob, M.Sajid and Tariq while in the amateurs competition, Taimur Hasan, Shahid Khan and Tariq Mahmood will be aiming for honours.

Mrs Jameela Jabbar, Tehmina Nazir and Yasmin Mubarak are the prominent names in the women’s field.

All amateurs with a handicap of 12 and below are eligible to compete in the tournament.