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Friday March 29, 2024

Iqbal, Javed excel in Zaman Open Golf

By Our Correspondent
March 09, 2018

LAHORE: Muhammad Iqbal stood first in senior pro section while Javed Khan emerged on top in senior amateur category in J.A. Zaman Open Golf Championship which got underway here here on Thursday.

The first round of this four-round event, backed by the Zaman family, was inaugurated by Hamid Zaman, head of the Zaman family at the Lahore Gymkhana Golf Course by hitting the first shot.

From the competitive angle this first round was earmarked for the senior professionals, junior professionals, senior amateurs and veterans and as for the Professionals and amateurs, they will be competing over the next three days from Friday.

In senior pro category M Iqbal of Gymkhana played outstanding golf and ended up as the senior professionals champion with an impressive score of gross 70, two under par. Asghar Ali of Gymkhana came second.

His score was gross 71 and the third slot went to M Akram (Wapda). His score was gross 72. Junior Professionals also completed their competitive outing and amongst them the winner was Usman Ali of Garrison Golf Club. His gross score was 71, one under par and the runner-up slot was occupied by three participants, Bilal Hussain of MCG, Kashif Masih of Garrison and Amir Khan of Peshawar. These three were bracketed at a score of gross 74 and as per rules, Bilal Hussain was declared second and Kashif Masih, third.

In the race for honors amongst the senior amateurs, Javed A. Khan (Lahore Gymkhana) dominated the proceedings and through accurate hitting and smooth putting came up with a score of gross 75, thus winning the top position in the senior amateur category. Competitors who won positions other that the first were Tariq Mehmood (Garrison) and Col Rustam Piracha also of Garrison.

Tariq Mehmood came second with a gross score of 76 and Col Rustam Piracha came third and his gross score was 77. Net first position went to Maj Gen Qasim Qureshi (Gymkhana) his net score being 69. Col Muhammed Shafi (Garrison) picked up the second net and his net score was 72. Third net winner was Dr Khurran Saadat. He also had a net score of 72 but because of a better score over the last nine holes, Col Shafi was declared second.

The highlight of the day was a superb shot hit by Abdul Nafey Burki, on the par 3, 4th hole. His shot was stunningly accurate but what turned out to be more stunning was that this shot after landing travelled about five yards and ended up in the hole yielding a rewarding hole in one for this golfer of Lahore Gymkhana. As a result of this success he becomes entitled to the hole in one car provided no other participant succeeds in getting a hole in one over the remaining three rounds. So for the next three days he has to pray and hope, no one else becomes as fortunate as him, otherwise he has to share the prize. On Friday the Professionals and Amateurs aim to light up the golf course with sparkling play.

Shabbir Iqbal is looking brilliant and so are his challengers Muhammed Munir, Matloob Ahmed and Shahid Javed Khan. In the amateur category the champions who will be under focus are Ahmed Baig, M. Saqib and M. Rehman.