Munir and Ashfaq share lead in CNS Open

KARACHI: The slow yet steady approach of Muhammad Munir paid off once again as the Pakistan number one catapulted himself on the top of the leader-board on the second day of the CAS Open Golf Championship 2016 here at Airmen Golf Course.

After playing a par round on the opening day, Munir took a series of calculated risks to return with an impressive card of four-under 68. He is sharing the lead with Muhammad Ashfaq, who followed his opening day score of 68 with a par round of 72.

The fact that the game of overnight leader Ansar Mehmood fell apart on a windy Friday helped Munir’s cause.

Ansar, who finished with a stunning score of seven-under 65 in the opening round, stumbled on the back nine to finish with a forgettable round of six-over 78. He had four bogies and a double bogey on the back nine after finishing the front nine with par 36. The miserable show forced him to go down on the leader-board.

While Ansar faltered, Munir played superbly and had a bogey-free day. He made birdies on holes 3,7,13 and 18.

The four-day championship is still wide open with KGC’s Muhammad Amir standing at number three with an aggregate of three-under par 141 and the duo of Ahmed Saeed and Afsar Ali are just one shot behind him.

Defending champion Shabbir Iqbal had a rough day and ended the round at par.

In senior professionals’ category Imdad Hussain finished the day with gross score of one-over par 145, while Muhammad Akram is in second place with an aggregate of 146.

Top golfers from all over Pakistan are representing their associations and clubs in the championship.