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Shabbir, Matloob, Safdar lead Habib Golf Back To Main

KARACHI: Pakistan number one Shabbir Iqbal finished the opening day of Rashid D. Habib Memorial National Professional Golf tied for the top spot with two of his main challengers here at the picturesque course of the Karachi Golf Club on Tuesday.

The trio of Shabbir, Matloob Ahmed and Muhammad Safdar Khan were tied for the pole position on the leader-board after the first round with scores of three-under 69. A total of 104 professionals teed off on what was a cold and windy morning, promising some exciting contests during the course of the three-day tournament.

As expected, Navy’s Shabbir – easily the most consistent pro on the national circuit — was the pick of the participants. Shabbir began the opening round on the wrong foot when he hit two bogies on the first two holes. But he responded with a stunning eagle on the par-5 hole no 4 and fired four more birdies to end with a card of 69. Matloob Ahmed, one of the main title contenders, also finished with a similar score and so did Safdar from Gujranwala.

Shahid Javed Khan of Royal Palm and Country Club and Nadeem Inayat of Karachi Gymkhana were tied with identical scores of 70. In the senior professional category, former national golf champion Ghulam Nabi of Lahore Gymkhana fired 71 to take the top spot on the leader-board.

The tournament which carries a prize basket of Rs one million is being sponsored by Bank AL Habib Limited. In addition to the prize money, the bank will be paying the top five professionals of the country Rs 50,000 each to encourage their participation.