LAHORE, Dec 14: Lahore Gymkhana ‘A’ were the leaders in the Royal Palm golf team championship at the Royal Palm Country Club course on Friday, with a first day’s score of 230.

As the country’s top 12 amateur teams battle for honours, Gymkhana are six strokes better than runners-up Royal Palm ‘A’. But the course became rather challenging due to the windy and chilly weather, making shot-making a skillful exercise.

For Gymkhana ‘A’, the finest player of the day was Danyaal Jehangir, whose golfing reflected enough shine to set him apart from the others. In the first round, he finished the front nine in 37 (with seven pars and two bogies) and the back nine also in 37 (with two birdies, five pars and two bogies).

Although Danyaal’s elder brother Aadil, also playing for the leaders, completed the first nine with a dismal score of 41, he improved the situation on the back nine, finishing it with a score of 35 to post a card of 76.

Teammate Imran Ahmed played a round of 80.

The hosts’ club ended up six strokes behind with Mohammad Rehman’s 77, Shoaib Bokhari’s 79 and Sardar Murad’s 80 being the best ones for them.

Gujranwala, comprising Saleem Raza, Raheel Ikram, Mohammad Safdar and Mohammad Waqas, are lagging behind at third with a score of 237. Still they must be feeling good because they are ahead of the Islamabad ‘A’ team, which includes star players such as Taimur Hassan and Tariq Mehmood within their ranks.

Meanwhile, individual competition for the challenge shield has begun to tilt the way for Fakhar Imam, who is leading with a net score of 70. Humayun Mian is at net 72 and so is Danyaal Jehangir.

With a score of 73, Taimur Hassan is the gross section leader. Bracketed with him is M. Safdar also at 73.