Ansar braves tough conditions to take lead in CAS Open

KARACHI: The Airmen Golf Course here at Korangi Creek is regarded as the longest in Pakistan and perhaps also the toughest especially in windy conditions.

But it seems that nobody told those facts to Islamabad’s Ansar Mehmood.

The in-form pro carded a stunning seven-under-par 65 in the opening round of the CAS Open Golf Championship on Thursday to take a three-shot lead in the prestigious event.

While many of the top contenders fell by the wayside at the windswept Airmen course, Ansar played like a true champion and at one stage it seemed that he would create history when he was playing at -9 after making a birdie on the par-4 16th hole. But he suffered a setback on the very next hole where he had a double bogey on the par-4 17th before finishing with a par. He played 30 (-6) on the front nine with birdies on 2,3,4,7,8 and 9. He had three more birdies on the back nine.

Three strokes off the pace was Arabian Sea Country Club’s (ASCC) Muhammad Ahfaq, who carded four-under 68. He was followed by defending champion Shabbir Iqbal and the duo of DHA’s Zulfiqar Ali and KGC’s Muhammad Amir at 70.

Among the top contenders who were unable to find a place at the top of the leader-board was Pakistan No. 1 Muhammad Munir. The Islamabad pro played a par round of 72. Trailing one shot behind him was top Karachi player Waheed Baloch, who won the lucrative Rashid D. Habib Professionals Tournament at KGC earlier this season.

Earlier, Air Vice Marshal Salman Ahsan Bukhari, Air Officer Commanding, Southern Air Command, who is also Patron in Chief Airmen Golf Course, inaugurated the Championship.

A total of 300 golfers including 109 professionals from all over the country are featuring in the championship which carries at stake a prize purse of Rs4 million. The competing players will also be vying for two brand new cars which have been put offer for hole-in-one.

Subsidiary matches in the category of Senior Professionals, Amateurs, Airmen Golf Course Members, Ladies, Veterans and invitees will also be played during the four-day championship.