JA Zaman Golf Championship: Iqbal impresses with five-under-par

Defending champion says win in DHA championship has improved his rhythm.

KARACHI: Holder Muhammad Shabbir Iqbal of Islamabad pulled off an excellent round with a superb five-under-par 67 on the opening day of the third JA Zaman Memorial Open Golf Championship at the historic par-72 Lahore Gymkhana Golf Course on Friday.

The defending champion struck birdies on the fifth, sixth, seventh, 11th, 15th and 17th holes, but suffered a bogey on hole 13. Hot on his heels is Talib Hussain of Islamabad, just a stroke behind the leader with a four-under-par 68.

“I have got my rhythm back after the last DHA All-Pakistan Open Golf Championship in Karachi; the win there with strong winds has given me a lot of confidence,” Iqbal told The Express Tribune. “Playing here is a lot easier, but still [there are] two more rounds to go. The young players are playing really well, the game is changing. We have to increase our efforts to stay ahead.”



Of other professionals, eight more managed an under-par score, including Shahid Javed Khan in third with his two-under-par 70, while Daniyal Jehangir, Muhammad Rizwan, Shafiq Masih, Sunny John, Muhammad Khurshid and Muhammad Afzal all are at one-under-par 71.

Meanwhile, in the race for dominance amongst amateurs, Fakhar Imam of Defence Raya Golf and Country Club leads with a gross score of par 72.

Following him is Robin Bagh, one stroke behind at one-over-par, while Sardar Murad scored a two-over-par.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th,  2016.

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