The 47th Pakistan Open Golf Championship moves into the final phase at the ancient 135 years old Rawalpindi Golf Course.
At the conclusion of the third round in this four rounds National Golf Event, the spirited twenty one year old, Ahmed Baig occupies the top position on the leaderboard, which makes him a probable aspirant for the Pakistan Champions Golf Title 2020 challenged intently by the 44 years old top ranked professional golf player of the country Muhammed Shabbir who has previously won the national title four times.
During the course of third round M. Shabbir has managed to eliminate the advantage of three strokes that Ahmed Baig enjoyed over him at the start of the round and as scores stand M. Shabbir is placed at a three days aggregate score of 216 and placed at the same score is Ahmed Baig. While Shabbir had a third round score of 73, Ahmed Baig was errant on one hole and that messed up his card and he concluded the third round with a modest looking 76. Over the three rounds Ahmed has scores of 70, 70 and 76 and Shabbir has rounds of 71, 72 and 73, both tied at 216.
While Ahmed Baig and Shabbir enjoy the spotlight in the ongoing combat for honors and lucrative prize money, there are other contenders who look relentless in making a mark in this fiercely competitive flow of the contest. The dominant one in this category are M. Nazir (Islamabad), M. Munir (Rawalpindi), Muhammed Afzal (Sind Regiment, Hyderabad) and the impressive Muhammed Umer Khokher, an amateur who has given a good account of his adroitness and serious intent. M. Nazir is placed one stroke behind the leaders and the other three trail by a margin of two strokes, a margin that is moderate and certainly not formidable.
The top professionals after 54 holes:
- – Ahmed Baig (PAF Skyview) 70+70+76=216;
- – M.Shabbir (Islamabad)71+72+73=216;
- – M. Nazir (Islamabad) 74+71+72=217;
- – Muhammed Umer Khokher (Rawalpindi) 76+70+72=218;
- – M. Munir (Rawalpindi) 77+71+70=218;
- – Muhammed Afzal (SRC) 74+76+68=218;
- – Taimoor Khan (Peshawar) 73+69+77=219;
- – M.Rehman (Royal Palm) 72+77+71=220;
- – M.Alam (PAF Skyview) 73+77+70=220;
- – Arif Ali (PTV) 70+76+75=221;
- – Akber Mehroz (Gymkhana) 76+72+73=221;
- – Syed Bilal Hussain (Margalla Greens) 76+72+73=221;
- – Imran Ali Khan (DHA) 72+77+72=221;
- – M.Zubair (Islamabad) 77+73+71=221.
The final round will be a great test for these noteworthy competitors with ability to control nerves playing a deciding role.
In the race for honours amongst the junior professionals, Abdul Wadood a nineteen year old of Multan Golf Club looks solid, purposeful and resolute. He is placed at a two rounds aggregate score of 143, six strokes ahead of his nearest opponent Faizan Ali of Garrison Golf Club. Another prominent one is Ishfaq Ahmed who is placed at a score of 151.
The final session will be contested on Sunday, 22nd November and one expects a fierce battle between the top nine professionals.
After the conclusion of the 47th Pakistan Open Golf Championship the prize distribution will be held at 4.00pm with the Chief Guest – Dr Arif Alvi, President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
