PESHAWAR, April 28: Defending champion, Shabbir Iqbal, fired a seven under par first round 65 to take a two-stroke lead on Friday in the 16th Frontier golf championship at PAF Golf Course.

Shabbir had 34 at front nine and 31 at back nine by scoring seven birdies but missed a stroke at hole number 4. He scored four onsecutive birdies at 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, and 18.

Akhtar Ali carded 67, 33 and 34 at front and back nine with four birdies and a missed a stroke at hole no.18 to occupy second place.

Local boy Mohammad Arif fired a fine 68, 33 and 35 at front and back nine with birdies at 5, 6, 8,9, 11, 17 and 18 and bogies at 7 and 10.

He shared third place with Shahid Javed Khan. Shahid carded 31+37, with six birdies, four on the trot at 1, 2, 3, and 4 but dropped strokes at 13 and 14.

Pakistan's No. 1 Mohammad Munir carded 70, two under par, 36 at front and 34 at back nine with four birdies and suffered double bogey at par-3, hole no. 3.

Wahid Baloch of Karachi also carded 70, two under par, 34 and 37 at front and back nine. He carded five birdies including four consecutive holes besides missed a stroke at 5, 13 and 16.

It was an amazing day for top amateur golfer Vaqas Ahmed of Rawalpindi Golf Club, who had Hole-in-One and won the golfing set.

He is (+1) HCP and is currently the national team member.