Salman Jehangir of Lahore Gymkhana emerged as the front runner by upstaging the overnight leaders Waleed Zubair and Amir Choudry at the end of the second round in this 54-hole three-day 27th Millat Governor’s Cup Golf Championship in progress at the Lahore Gymkhana Golf Course.
And this was no fluke, as this accomplishment was made possible by a display of power hitting, superb fairway shots and a gifted putting touch where all the four to five feet putts found their lodgings in the hole and not on the lip of the hole, as some unlucky moments normally cause. During the second round, Salman birdied the 2nd, 8th, 9th and 11th and secured an eagle on the 16th. Added to that there were 12 regulation pars, with just one bogie, that being the odd one.
Salman is a youngster of immense talent, already in the national reckoning but somehow studies stand between him and heroics on the golf course. Perhaps a victory here can inspire his father Jehangir Aziz to give him a respite to devote all energies to golf. But between him and victory stand other men amateurs of golfing ability. Mohsin Anwer is one and Taimur Shabbir another. Incidentally Taimur is the son of Nishan-e-Haider, Shabbir Sharif, and is determined to win and dedicate the victory to his father.
Mohsin Anwer had a mixed second round yesterday with sparks of brilliance towards the end of the round, the two birdies on the 15th and 16th and regulation pars on the 17th and 18th, a reflection on his talent and ability. Mohsin is placed at a score of net 139, two strokes behind the leader, while Taimur Shabbir is at 141 alongwith Jamal Nasir and Sardar M. Leghari. At 142 is Maj Asad Zia.
In the race for honours in senior section, Dr Zubair Qayum (Garrison) is leading with a net score of 67, and following him are Maj Shahid and Col Hamayun Rashid. Amongst the ladies, the joint leaders are Kara Alam and Noori Zaman and tagging a few strokes away are Nushmiya Sukhera and Tehmina Rashid.
Today is the final day and at the conclusion of the championship, Governor Punjab will be the chief guest at the prize distribution at 4pm at Gymkhana Golf Club.
