KARACHI, June 28: Defending champion Shabbir Iqbal of Navy and last year’s runner-up Matloob Ahmed of Lahore Gymkhana shot three under par 69 in the first round to share top place in the 17th UMA Chief of the Naval Staff Open Golf Championship at the Karachi Golf Club on Thursday.

The 35-year-old Shabbir, who is also seven-time champion, had a fine run in the first round scoring 13 pars and five birdies to jointly lead the pack of 120 players in the Open category.

But despite faulting on the front nine with two bogies on holes seven and nine, Matloob also remain in contention hitting five birdies and 11 pars.

Trailing second a stroke behind with a score of 70 are Mohammad Tahir of Gymkhana and Abid Rana of Karachi Golf Club (KGC).

Two-time champion Mohammad Munir and Imdad Hussain had a poor first round. The former carded one over 73 to share fifth place with four players while the latter fired two over 74 to be tied in sixth position with five others.

Meanwhile, former champion Mohammad Ali Hai emerged as a sole leader in the amateurs category carding two over 74.

He is jointly followed by defending champion Sajid Khan of Arabian Sea Country Club (ASCC) and young Mubariz Ahmed of Islamabad who shot three over 75.

Mohammad Tariq Alam of the KGC is in the third place with four over 76.

Waseem Rana of the DHA played below expectations to trail with a card of six over 78.

Leader board after first round:

Pros: 69 — Matloob Ahmed (Lahore Gymkhana), Shabbir Iqbal (PN). 70 — Mohammad Tahir (Gymkhana), Abid Rana (KGC). 71 — Waheed Baloch (KGC), M. Waqas (Islamabad), Mohammad Sohail (Rawalpindi), Shafiq Masih (Gymkhana). 72 — Nadeem Inayat (KGC), Khalid Khan (Peshawar). 73 — Amjad Yousuf (KGC), Karar Hussain Changezi (Quetta), Mohammad Siddique (Faisalabad), Mohammad Munir (Islamabad), Mohammad Nazir (Islamabad). 74 — Ali Sher (KGC), Javed Inayat (KGC), Arif Ali Junior (Gymkhana), Imdad Hussain (LGC), Ali Asghar (Islamabad), Adil Jehangir (Gymkhana). Amateurs: 74 — Mohammad Ali Hai (KGC). 75 — Mubariz Ahmed (Islamabad), Sajid Khan (ASCC). 76 — Mohammad Tariq Alam (KGC).