01-Jan-2012
The News
KARACHI: Pakistan number one Shabbir Iqbal was on Saturday just one step away from winning the 41st Pakistan Open Golf Championship here at the DHA Golf Club.
The bearded golfer from Islamabad further consolidated his lead when he fired a steady third round of one-under par 71 for a four-shot lead ahead of Sunday’s final round of the Rs3 million spectacle.
With ideal weather and excellent golf course conditions, Shabbir was once again in his element as he built a platform for his victory on Sunday with an enviable ease.
Shabbir never looked unsettled like his nearest challenger of the second day — Mohammed Munir — who dropped shots every now and then to just fall out of contention. Munir’s poor 77 pushed him to fourth position, eight strokes behind Shabbir.
In contrast, Shabbir had a competent and effective round of 71 and a three days aggregate of 210, six under par.
The third round of a major championship is always critical and to stay in contention every shot has to be planned. And this is what Matloob and Adil Jehangir did.
Matloob’s 71 on the third day helped him to an aggregate of 214 and appears to be the only one in a position to challenge Shabbir.
“I’m not daunted by Shabbir and it is going to be a match play duel in the final round tomorrow,” he said.
As for Aadil the magical touch reappeared to enable him to shift gears and come up with the best round of the day, a 68, four under par for an aggregate of 216. The stunning show helped him capture third position on the leaderboard.
In the senior professionals section the race for honors and abundant cash prizes began on Saturday and after completion of 18 holes the senior who excelled over his 27 fellow competitors is Asghar Ali of Lahore Gymkhana.
Asghar’s round was clinical indeed, his score of 72 resulting from accurate hitting backed by decent putting on the greens. Placed four strokes behind him is Ghani Khan of Karachi Golf Club and a stroke further behind is Shaukat Ali (IGC) at 77 with Ghulam Nabi(PIA) and Mohammad Aslam(Lyallpur) at 78.
To recall the past Ghulam Nabi in his younger days won the Pakistan Open title six times. “I do think of those days when I was considered the mighty one,” said Ghulam Nabi. “I just hope I can maintain my fitness as golf is in my blood and maybe I can live without oxygen but not golf.”
The amateur section has its own fighters, though their scores may not be as remarkable as those of the professional golfers.
On saturder, local contender Ali Hai and Waseem Rana displaced overnight leader Ansar Mehmood. The dup jointly took pole position in the amateur category.
Ali Hai of Karachi Golf Club and Waseem Rana Of DHA are bracketed at a three rounds score of 229, with Ansar Mehmood at 232, Ghzanfar Mehmood at 235, and Sajid Khan of Arabian Sea Golf Club at the same score. Taimur Hassan and Mohammed Rehman are at 236.
Leaderboard after third round:
M Shabbir Iqbal (Islamabad) 69+70+71=210
Matloob Ahmed (Garrison) 71+72+71=214
Adil Jehangir (Gymkhana) 76+72+68=216
Mohammed Munir (Islamabad) 70+71+77=218
Afsar Ali (Karachi) 73+73+72=218
Javed Inayat (Karachi) 79+68+71=218
Shahid Javed Khan (Royal Palm) 72+72+76=220
Irfan Mehmood (Rawalpindi) 70+76+76=222
Hamza Amin (Islamabad) 79+68+75=222
Mohammed Safdar (Gujranwala) 73+75+74=222
Wisal Khan (Peshawar) 77+72+73=222. |
