KARACHI, Aug 20: Despite windy conditions, holder Imdad Hussain, Ghani Khan, Tahir Naseem and Muhammad Munir fired first round of two-under-par 70 to emerge as joint leaders on the first day of 6th Sindh Open golf championship at Arabian Sea Country Club (ASCC) on Friday.

Imdad was in great form at the front nine with score of 32 including an eagle on hole five and laced with five birdies. But he faded away at back nine by carding 38 to end an aggregate 70 in pack of 92 professionals in 54-hole contest.

Tahir had three birdies while Munir and Ghani got two birdies each in their score of 70 in Rs 500,000 championship. The highlight of the opening day was spectacular hole-in-one feat by young Humayan Karamat at hole number five in the amateur contest.

Asad I.A.Khan also had an eagle on hole but finished far behind with a poor 86. Muhammad Ali Hai took an early lead with Shahid Javed in amateur category with one-over-par 73. He carved out four birdies in his one-over-par 73 in the field of 62 golfers.

LEADING SCORES (PROFESSIONALS)

70-Imdad Hussain, Ghani Khan, Tahir Naseem, Muhammad Munir

71-Shabbir

72-Nisar Hussain

73-Nadeem Inayat, Akhtar Ali, Pervez Akhtar, Ghazanfar Mahmood

74-M.Tariq, Shakeel Rehmati, Taj Nabi, Abbas Ali, Mahmood Kiani

AMATEURS:

73-Muhammad Ali Hai, Shahid Javed Khan

74-Adil Jahangir, Waseem Rana

76-Sajid Khan

79-Shahnawaz Khan, Asif Mehdi, Hamza Ansari. -APP