Naeem takes early lead in D. Habib Memorial National Professional Golf Championship
Mohammad Naeem took the lead after first round of Bank Al Habib Rashid D. Habib Memorial National Professional Golf Championship being played at the Karachi Golf Club.
Mohammad Naeem substantially increased his chances of winning the Rashid D. Habib Memorial Golf Tournament as in its last two editions, the leader at the end of the first round of the has gone on to win the event.
Naeem shot a five-under 67 on Thursday, hitting seven birdies on the way, to seize a one-shot lead at the end of the opening round.
The thick greens didn’t seem to affect Naeem as he started off with a birdie on the opening hole and followed it up with birdies on the fourth, seventh, ninth and 10th holes.
Bogeys on the 11th and 14th holes seemed to impede his fine run but he capped of a brilliant performance with birdies on the 15th and 17th holes.
Shabbir Iqbal, the 2017 and 2018 champion, and Shahbaz Masih both shot 68 to remain in close pursuit of Naeem.
Shabbir, who won the 2017 title, played a bogey-free round with birdies on the second, 12th, 14th and 15th holes.
Mohammad Munir, who lost out to Shabbir in the playoff three years ago, was one of three golfers tied on 70 alongside Rehmatullah and Mohammad Hashmat.
Sitting on 71 with Matloob, who hit two birdies, were Mudassir Iqbal, Amanat Ali and Shahid Pervez.
A stroke adrift was a group of five golfers Mohammad Ashfaq, Jafal Hussain, Mohammad Afzal, Shakir Khokhar and Azam Khan.
Hamza Amin, who finished third last year, was one of nine golfers who played a one-over 73 while Waheed Baloch, the 2016 champion, ended the first round 10 strokes off the lead after losing his ball on the 17th hole.
