KARACHI, Aug 4: Defending champion Shabbir Iqbal of Navy maintained his ascendancy when he finished joint leader with departmental compatriot Ansar Mehmood at the end of first round in the 54-hole 11th CNS Open Golf Championship which teed-off at the Karachi Golf Club on Friday.

Playing in pleasant weather the two pros carded 4-under par 68 to lead the pack. Occupying second place one stroke behind is Mohammad Akram and a further stroke away in the third place is Imdad Hussain.

Four players — Irfan Mahmood, Waheed Balouch, Afsar Ali and Nadeem Inayat — share the fourth spot with a score of 1-under par 71 while Mohammad Arif and Mohammad Nazir are tied at the fifth place with a score of par 72.

Aspiring to win his fourth CNS crown Shabbir fired seven birdies three on the front nine and four on the back nine to overcome disadvantage of bogeying thrice.

Ansar played steadily chasing the holder by scoring five birdies. He bogeyed once on the back nine.

Caddy Abrar Ahmed, a 6 handicap player, leads the amateur (gross) category with a score of 73.

Following him two strokes behind at 3-over 75 are Sheraz Shaukat and Jaudat Hashmi. However, the former leads the net category.

Defending champion Mohammad Ali Hai, having represented the country at Namura Cup, played a poor first round of 6-over 78 to trail at joint fifth. Adil Jahangir who too has represented the country at Namura Cup is a stroke ahead of Hai at five over 77.

Mohsin Khan, Amjad Rahim, Ali Sher and Ayaz Gul are other promising caddies along with to Abrar who have done well in the first round. They have been identified by Sindh Golf Association (SGA).

Secretary SGA, Asad I. A. Khan, making an appearance after a month’s layoff, played a poor round of 17-over 89.

Similarly, Captain of Karachi Golf Club (KGC) Sohail K. Rana, a 4-handicap player, was not impressive on the first day with a score of 8-over 80.

The second round of pro and am competition will be played on Saturday in addition to the 18-hole ladies and juniors and nine-hole veteran’s event.

Leader board: (pro)

68- Shabbir Iqbal (Navy), Ansar Mehmood (Navy).

69- Mohammad Akram (Gym).

70- Imdad Hussain (LGC).

71- Irfan Mehmood (Rwp),Waheed Balouch (HBL), Afsar Ali (KGC), Nadeem Inayat (KGC).

72- Mohammad Arif (DHA), Mohammad Nazir (Isb).

Leader board (am) gross

73- Abrar Ahmed.

75- Sheraz Shaukat, Jaudat Hashmi.

76- Mohsin Khan.

77- Faisal Jafri, Amjad Rahim, Adil Jahangir.

78- Mohammad Ali Hai, Ali Sher, Aly Rana, Ayaz Gul, Usman Riaz.

79- Tariq Mehmood, Inayatullah Yousuf Zai, Humayun Karamat.

80- Gp. Capt (retd) Usman, Tariq Alam, Sohail K. Rana, Mansoor Teli.