Brilliant Munir takes lead in Sindh Open Golf

KARACHI: Muhammad Munir showed why he is regarded as one of the best golfers on the national circuit when he shot a stunning seven-under 65 to take a one-shot lead in the penultimate round of the 19th Sindh Open Golf Championship here at the Arabian Sea Country Club (ASCC) on Saturday.

The diminutive Munir, who is known for his steady approach, took calculated risks as he made six birdies and an eagle on hole 11 to move to the top of the leader-board.

On a warm yet pleasant day, most of the top contenders were in their element something that was evident on the score sheet of the second round.

Islamabad’s Munir is at the top with an aggregate of 136 (-8). He is followed by M. Safdar who carded an excellent round of 68 on Saturday. Safdar shares the second place with M. Nazir who also fired a round of 68. They are followed by the duo of Matloob Ahmed, Shabbir Iqbal and M.Alam (139).

Shabbir, the defending champion, came back from a score of 71 to shoot 68 in the second which means that he is three shots off the pace.

Daniyal Jahangir also shot a round of 68.

In the senior pros category Abdul Jabbar and M. Akram were sharing the lead after shoot similar scores of two-under 70. They were followed by Iftikhar Ahmed (72), Asghar Ali (73) and title favourite Imdad Hussain (74).

In the amateurs category Ghazanfar Mehmood was leading by a healthy six shots after aggregating 139 over two days. He was followed by M. Ziaraf, M. Sharif, Zohaib Asif and M. Rehman.

In the senior amateurs’ category, Asad I.A Khan, President SGA, took a one-shot lead after carding 81 in the opening round. He is followed by Lt Col Mansoor Akram, brig saleem Abdullah, Jawed Wudood and Lt Col Zahid Iqbal.

The three-day championship will conclude on Sunday (today).

Earlier on the opening day of the championship, M. Asif, M. Safdar, M. Nazeer, Matloob Ahmed and Shafiq Masih took the lead.

They were followed by Mohammad Zubair, Lateef Rafiq, Adil Jahangir, M. Khalid and Nadeem Inayat.

In the amateurs’ category, Ghazanfar Mehmood played the best card of the day of four under 68. His scores included seven birdies on holes 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11 and 17. However, he had two bogeys on the back nine at holes 15 and 18.