31-Dec-2011
The News
Our Correspondent
KARACHI: Shabbir Iqbal on Friday consolidated his lead in the 41st Pakistan Open Golf Championship with a two-under par 70 on the second day of the prestigious event here at the DHA Golf Club.
After a superb 69 on the opening day, Shabbir was once again at his brilliant best as he drove and putted with an enviable ease to take a two-shot lead as the four-day championship reached its half-way mark.
Shabbir remains at the top of the leaderboard with an aggregate of 139, five under par. And for that matter the top three positions remained unchanged and are similar to the ones on the first day, as Mohammed Munir is placed at the second spot while Matloob Ahmed is at the third place.
The advantage in terms of stroke difference is all tilted towards Shabbir as now he has a two stroke edge over Munir, who is placed at 141 (70+71) and four strokes ascendancy over Matloob, who reached an aggregate score of 143 (71+72).
Other professionals looking good and very much in contention are Shahid Javed Khan of Royal Palm at 144 (72+72), Irfan Mehmood of Rawalpindi at 146 (70+76) along with Talib Hussain of Islamabad and Afsar Ali of Karachi at the same score, followed by four competitors — Imdad Hussain, Mehroz Ilyas, Javed Inayat and Hamza Amin — all at 147.
Javed Inayat, an experienced hand and Hamza Amin, barely 22 years old and a new entrant to the professional ranks, provided more spice to the competition through similar scores of gross 68, four under par, the best score produced in the second round.
In particular, Hamza, after a rather poor show in the first round launched himself during Friday’s 18 holes riding high in confidence, enjoying virtually a flawless round that was highlighted by four birdies and fourteen pars.
“I am very happy with how I’ve played. Tee shots were all great and putting was flair oriented,” said Hamza. He added that the “competition is fierce which has to be countered with quality play”.
From the statistical angle Shabbir was rock solid, not too spectacular but steady and in full control — two birdies on the front nine, two on the back nine, twelve pars and two bogies. The bogies not to his liking but there all the same to erode the good effect of two birdies.
“I am happy with my feel of the game and hope to compile a spectacular under par round on Saturday, the third day,” he said.
Munir is attracting enough attention and very much in the run, though his second round’s score was not to his liking. “The one under par 71 could have been 69 if the putts on 16th and 18th hole had not stopped at the lip of the hole,” he lamented.
The cut was made after the second round and only 44 professional contenders play the third and fourth round. Forty seven participants stand eliminated.
In the amateur section, Capt Anser Mehmood (Navy) is ahead with two rounds scores of 72+75=147, followed by Robin Bagh (Sarghoda) at 150 (75+75), Wasim Rana (DHA) 153, (75+78) and Ali Hai (Karachi Golf Club) 153, (79+74). The senior professionals enter the competition on Saturday (today) for a match over 36 holes. |
