International golfer and member of the Pakistan team Taimur Naseer led the opening day round with his gross score three under par 69 over 18 holes of the 54-holes Air Marshal Asghar Khan National Amateur Golf Championship, which got under way here at PAF Golf Course here on Friday.
Top Amateur golfer Asfandyar formally inaugurated the Championship to be played over 54-holes, 18-hole each day. Secretary PAF Golf Club Group Captain Umar Riaz, former skipper Pakistan team and Join Secretary PGF Mehmood Aziz, international golfers Naeem Ahmad, Taimur, Tariq Mehmood, Major Arshad Mehmood were also present on this occasion. Member of the National Taimur Naseer, who was tuned up from Sri Lanka after winning international event there, carded three under par, 69 at gross with 32, three under at front nine holes and 37, one over par, at back nine.
Taimur played very calculated game by scoring four birdies at front nine and a double bogy at back nine. "I hit all regulations and my putting was bar better in the front nine as of at back nine where I did double bogy at hole no. 10," Taimur said. Top amateur and former Pakistan team skipper Tariq Mehmood of Pakistan Navy carded three over par 75 with 38, two over par at front nine and 37, one over par, at back nine. Tariq scored three birdies and missed a stroke on more than five holes.
Another promising golfer who recently won 25th KP National Ranking Opening Golf Championship with 10 under 206 gross, struggling at third with his gross four over par 76, 38, two over par at each front and back nine. Naeem scored three birdies three bogy including a double bogy. In the Net, 14 HCP Rehmat Ullah was leading the Net category on the opening day with his Net score 66, followed by 11 Asfandiyar Awan with his Net score 68 and Major Jamshed scored 68 Net at third. Besides HCP 14 and below, Senior Amateur, subsidiary, ladies, veterans, Boys Under-14 and Under-17 will be playing over 36 holes.
Talking to media men Group Captain Umar Riaz said that all arrangements have already been completed for the smooth conduct of the Championship. He said on the special directives of the Air Vice Marshal Zahir A. Babar, Air Officer Commanding, Northern Air Command all out facilities have been ensured to the golfers during the three-day event. He said total of 121 golfers national and international golfers are taking part from all over the country. He said the Championship is an annual feature of the Pakistan Golf Federation calendar.