ISLAMABAD, March 30: Muhammad Munir fired a two under par 70 to lead the field of professionals on the first day of President of Pakistan Gold Medal Open Golf Championship at the Islamabad Club course Saturday.

Munir of PTCL had four birdies on the first, sixth, eighth and 10th holes and had a score of 34 on the front nine and 36 on the back. He bogeyed the fourth and 17th holes.

It was a four-way tie for second place between Muhammad Shabbir, Abdul Hameed, Muhammad Tariq and Imdad Hussain, all of whom had an identical score of 71.

Shabbir, Pakistan No 1 for the past two years, who birdied the 17th had an excellent eagle on the 482m 9th hole while bogeying the first and fourth holes.

Tariq, another PTCL golfer had two birdies on the ninth and 16th and a bogey on the 18th as he scored 35 on the front and 36 while coming back. Imdad (37+34) also in second place, struck an eagle on the 17th and had one birdie on the 15th hole and a bogey on the 7th.

In third place was Ghulam Hussain Kazmi who carded 72 while ADBP’s Saeed Ahmed had a good first round of three over 75.

Waqas Ahmed of Rawalpindi Golf Club with a handicap of +1 led the amateur category with 69 gross and 70 net. He was followed in the net category by Daniyal on 71 and Shakil Ahmed and Adil Jahangir, both on 72.

Aimal Zaman stood at 75 in the gross section while Tariq Mahmood and Zeeshan Ali were both at 76.

Taimur Hasan had a poor first round of 80 gross and seems to be out of contention.