KARACHI: Lady Luck smiled on prominent golfer Zohaib Asif when he edged overnight co-leader and defending champion Waseem Rana by one shot in an exciting finish to grab amateurs crown in the sixth Sindh Golf Association (SGA) Cup, at the Defence Authority Country and Golf Club (DACGC) on Sunday.

Both Asif and Rana, who had a par round to share opening day’s honours, were engaged in a neck-and-neck finish when on the 18th and last hole the former turned the tide in his favour with par as compared to double bogey by the latter.

Asif shot three over 75 in the second round to finish with two day aggregate of 147, three over par. Rana shot four over 76 for a total of 148, a shot behind the champion.

Karrar Hussain, who carded one over 73 on Saturday, was on the heels but a double bogey on the last hole also deprived him of the title.

Watched by spectators, including the chief guest, Administrator of the DHA, Brig Zubair Ahmed, signs of nervousness were visible on the faces of Asif, Rana and Hussain who were in the same flight on the 18th green.

The highlight of Asif’s success revolves around two eagles, one each on both days on the eighth hole.

Hussain, meanwhile, caught the eye scoring six birdies in the first round and five in the second.

Meanwhile, the seniors title went to retired Brig Mohammad Ayaz Peer while Sohail Rana finished runner-up.

Administrator of the DHA, Brig Zubair Ahmed, gave away the prizes.

The Sindh Golf Association (SGA) president Asad I A Khan welcomed the guest.

DHA Golf Club secretary retired Brig Tariq Rafiq and SGA secretary, Ashraf Khan Ghori also spoke on the occasion.

Top finishers:

Amateurs:

Winner Gross:

147 — Zohaib Asif (DHA) 72, 75

Runner-up Gross:

148 — Waseem Rana (DHA) 72, 76

Winner Net:

140 — Karrar Hussain (DHA)

Runner-up Net:

145 — Imran Khwaja (DHA)

Seniors:

Winner Gross:

162 — Retired Brig Mohammad Ayaz Peer (DHA) 79, 83

Runner-up Gross:

164 — Sohail Rana (Sindh Golf Association) 81, 83

Winner Net:

138 — Retired Brig Naeem Azher Lone (DHA)

141 — Sultan Mahmood (DHA)

Juniors under-18:

Winner Gross:

80 — Vivek Anand (DHA)

Runner-up Gross:

85 — Junaid Irfan (KGC)

Juniors under-16:

Winner Gross:

86 — Sabih Khan (DHA)

Runner-up:

89 — Syed Ali Arif (DHA)

Ladies:

Winner Gross:

80 — Aania Farooq (AGC)

Runner-up Gross:

83 — Mrs Humera Khalid (DHA)

Winner Net:

68 — Naghmana Atif (KGC)

Runner-up Net:

79 — Shahida Ismail (KGC)

Veterans:

Winner Gross:

41 — Asghar Ali (KGC)

Runner-up Gross:

43 — Bakhtiyar Saeed (DHA)

Winner Net:

35 — Retired Wing Commander Aftab A Khan (DHA)

Runner-up Net:

37 — H. M. Ansari (KGC)

Published in Dawn, October 19th, 2015

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