Matloob takes lead in CNS Open Golf

KARACHI: Lahore’s Matloob Ahmed on Friday conquered the long, wind-swept Airmen Course to take a one-shot lead in the second round of the 37th CAS Open Golf Championship 2018.

The vastly-experienced Matloob was in his element in the second round of the Rs8 million championship as he played an excellent round of three-under par 69 for a two-day aggregate of 140 (-4).

Just one shot off the pace was the duo of Pakistan No.1 Shabbir Iqbal and Shahid Javed Khan at 141 (-3).Shabbir, who began the championship as the hot favourite for the title, carded two-under par 70.Lahore Gymkhana’s Shahid Javed followed his opening day’s 73 with a superb round of four-under 68.

But the surprise package of the day was DHA’s Zulfiqar Ali who bounced back from his first round score of 77 to post the day’s best round of five-under par 67.First day’s leader Muhammad Alam, Waheed Baloch and Talat Ejaz were in the joint third place with an aggregate of 143 followed by Zulfiqar Ali (144).

In the amateurs’ category, Ghazanfar Mehmood proved his mettle to remain the best performer on the second day by carding a gross score of 146 (2 over par). Second position remained tied in gross category between Robin Bagh and M Shraif with a score of 150 (6 over par). In the net category Robin Bagh stands first with a score of 142 (2 under par) followed by Khalid Mehmood with a net score of 143 (1 under par).