At the end of the first round of this three-day show, 6th Acquafina Royal Palm National Golf Event at the character loaded par 72 Royal Palm Golf Course, the Royal Palm team comprising Sardar Murad, Omer Salamat, Shoaib Bokhari and Mohammed Rehman demonstrated their aggressive intent by managing to get a hold on the frontrunners position with an impressive team score of 230. Things were made possible with some authoritative play by Sardar Murad (gross 74), some ardent play by Mohammad Rehman (gross 76) and a modest contribution of 80 by Omer Salamat.
Another team that looks equally well-poised is Karachi Golf Club Team who also aggregated a team score similar to that achieved by Royal Palm, made possible by an excellent 72 gross from Ali Hai, a gross 77 by Asif Ahmed and Mansoor Telis 81. The Rawalpindi team comprising Ghazanfar Mehmood, Idrees Nisar Tinkoo and Khalid Mehmood are placed at a team score of 241 followed by Gymkhana at 242. Other teams are way behind.
Alongwith the team event is the competition for individual gross and in this section Ali Hai a leading amateur golf player of Pakistan showed his class and played inspired golf for a par round of 72, to become listed as the leader in gross section and, in particular his regulation pars on 16 holes reflected streaks of brilliance. “I know”, he said, “I have to play well to remain ahead, there are other capable ones in the field and I have to show the edge that I have”. Two strokes behind Ali is Sardar Murad who was in tremendous form and attributed success to continuous moral support by his non playing captain Amir Mehmood. Over the next two rounds these two seasoned ones are likely to be challenged by a talented youngster from Islamabad and Mohammed Rehman of Royal Palm. They are both placed at a score of gross 76. Another competitor from Rawalpindi, Ghazanfar Mehmood is also at 76, with Asif Ahmed of Karachi at 77.
In the race for honors in the Challenge Shield event the talented one in the forefront is Hamid Sharif of the host club. Regarded as a hard working golfer Hamid managed to demonstrate his skills with an impressive round of net 67 thereby looking well placed in this event. He is likely to be challenged by Sardar Murad who carded a net 69 and lies two strokes behind Hamid. Other notable contenders in the Challenge Shield category are Babar Khokhar 70, Asif Ahmed 71, Danish Javed 71 and Omer Khokhar net 72. This event will conclude today.
In the challenge shield net event which is due to conclude after two rounds today, the best one after the first 18 holes is Omer Arshed (Multan) with a net score of 66 followed by Saleem Raza at net 67,Ahmed Sarwar net 68, Mohammad Leghari net 68 and Raheel Ikram net 69. The battle for honors in team championship is very much fierce and the leading teams will put pressure on each other to stay as front runners.
