Golf: Unheralded Afzal wins at Sindh Open

Hyderabad golfer upstages favourite Shabbir after consistent show.

KARACHI: Afzal Mohsin claimed his first major title, overcoming top golfers Shabbir Iqbal and Mohammad Munir to win the Sindh Open Golf Championship Professionals’ title at the Arabian Sea Country Club in Karachi.

The Hyderabad golfer maintained his three-stroke second-round lead with a card of 73 on the final day to win the professional event with an aggregate of 208. Afzal adds the Sindh title to the Hyderabad Open triumph that he won earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Shabbir, who struggled on the second day, also returned with a card of 73, failing to overcome Afzal’s lead. The seasoned golfer finished with an aggregate of 211 to end second. Defending champion Munir had to be content with third place with a total of 213.

Waheed Baloch ended fourth after he matched the top two golfers with a card of 73 on the final day, falling one stroke behind Munir.

Another experienced golfer Matloob Ahmed finished on joint fifth position with a sheet of 215, along with Ashir Masih and Shahid Javed.

Meanwhile, Ghazanfar Mehmood won the amateur title with a gross of 219, firing 72 on the final day. Mohammad Rehman claimed the second spot while Waseem Rana earned third place with a total of 223.

Earlier, Ghulam Nabi had lifted the senior professional’s trophy after a clear six-stroke lead with a total of 142. Second position was shared among Ghani Khan, Mehmood Kiani and Manzoor Ahmed with a similar scores of 148.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 9^th, 2012.