KARACHI: Taking advantage of perfect conditions and a well-manicured fast putting greens, Ansar Mahmood and M Munir, both of Islamabad, fought a battle of birdies to jointly lead the first round of the Byco sponsored 13th Sindh Open Golf Championship with identical score of six under 66 here at the Arabian Sea Country Club golf course on Friday.Except for the heat and humidity everything was in perfect order for 90 professionals who took the course for the top prize purse of Rs. one million as the July sun rose on the horizon. At the end of the first round, Ansar firing eight birdies and one bogey returned the day with 66. Munir also excelled with his putting and sunk six birdies in a bogey free round to remain at the top with Ansar.Two strokes behind the joint leaders at four under 68 was Amir Munshi of KGC. Defending champion Shabbir Iqbal of Pakistan Navy, who won the 16th Chief of Naval Staff open just five days ago, was way down the leader board at 15th position with one under 71. Matloob Ahmed, another big name in national professional circuit, was placed at 48th place with three over 75. As many as 152 golfers entered the three day championship.
There were 90 Professionals, 40 Amateurs (12 below Handicap) & 22 Senior Professionals. In senior professionals, Ghani Khan of KGC and M Ilyas of GYM were leading the rest with 2 under par 70 followed by Abdul Hameed, Akhtar Ali and Asghar Ali of GYM.In Amateurs Gross M Rehman of RPC and Zohaib Asif of DHA are in lead with a score of 73. They are jointly followed by Sajid Khan of ASCC and Ghazanfar Mehmood of RPC with a score of 76. In Net category Danish Javed of LGK with a score of 70 along with Zohaib Asif of DHA are in the lead. – Nation
