KARACHI: Lahore’s Ahmed Baig was all set to be crowned as the overall winner of Faldo Series Pakistan after he carded yet another superb round of three-under par 69 here at the Defence Authority Country and Golf Club on Saturday.
On a cool, windy day when many of the young participants saw their game fall apart in the breeze, Ahmed continued to dazzle with his long drives and reliable short game as he consolidated his overall lead to 15 shots going into the final round of the three-day championship.
Ahmed, who fired a stunning score on 66 on the opening day in a bogey-free round, made birdies on holes 1, 2, 5, 7, 11. He had bogies on holes 9 and 13.
With a two-day aggregate of 135 (-9), he now has a 16-shot lead over his nearest rival – Saim Shazli – in the Boys’ Under-21 category. Saim followed his opening round 75 with 76 for an aggregate of 151.
Placed second overall is the Boys’ Under-18 leader is M.Saqib, who is also from Lahore Garrison Golf Club. After a first-round 71, Saqib faltered a bit with a 79 on Saturday but even then he is leading second-placed Junaid Irfan by six shots.
Lahore’s Damil Ataullah (158) is leading in the Boys Under-16 category after firing a round of 81 on Saturday. He is followed by Omer Intisar (160) and overnight leader Omar Khalid (162).
In the girls’ category, defending champion Aania Farooq’s lead was reduced to just one stroke after Lahore’s Parkha Ijaz shot an impressive 75. Aania’s two-day aggregate is 154 followed by Parka (155) and Rimsha Ijaz (159).
The championship will conclude on Sunday afternoon with the winners of each category winning the right to represent Pakistan at the 11th Faldo Series Asia Grand Final to be held at the Laguna Lang Co Golf Club in Danang, Vietnam, in March this year.
Following are the results after round two:
Girls:
154 – Aania Farooq
155 – Parkha Ijaz
159 – Rimsha Ijaz
Boys’ Under-16:
158 – Damil Ataullah
160 – Omer Intisar
162 – Omar Khalid
Boys’ Under-18
150 – M Saqib
156 – Junaid Irfan
157 – Ralfee Raja
Boys’ Under-21
135 – Ahmed Baig
151 – Saim Shazli
158 – Vivek Anand.
