Hamza, Safdar share lead in Lahore

LAHORE: The Nabi Yousaf Memorial Open Golf Championship commenced at the par-72 Royal Palm Golf and Country Club Course on Friday.

At the end of the first round of 18 holes, Islamabad’s Hamza Amin, who is a top ranked golf professional, produced the best round of the day with a brilliant score of gross 67.He displayed excellent shot making ability and some real good putting on the greens. Hamza had birdies on holes number 6, 9, 10, 13 and 14 and pars on 13 holes.

Gujranwala’s M Safdar is sharing the lead with Hamza.The good news for Safdar is that he has attained the top position ahead of star players like M Shabbir Iqbal and M Munir.His impressive score of gross 67 was a result of six birdies on holes number 3, 6, 9, 11, 13 and 16, eleven pars and one bogey on the 10th.

Just one stroke behind is the undisputed leader of Pakistan golf, Islamabad’s Shabbir Iqbal. After the first 18 holes in this three-day championship, he has a score of four under par.This score of 68 was assembled with the help of five birdies on holes 1, 3, 12, 13 and 17. A total of 12 regulation pars added classy support and though he lost a stroke on the 6th hole, he is in a position to surface in a still better standing after the second round on Saturday.

Other competitors in line are Zubair Satti (69), Shafiq Masih (69), Ali Naqas (70), Raheel Ikram (71), Arif Ali (71), Wisal Khan (71), Munir(72), Shabaz Masih (72) and Rehmatullah (72).