LAHORE: Hosts Royal Palm team took lead on the chilly second day of the 12th Royal Palm Golf Team Championship here on Saturday.

The Royal Palm team comprising Hussain Hamid, Mohsen Zafar, Ahmed Zafar Hayat and Shahid Abbas achieved an aggregate of 234 in the second round. Hussain excelled with gross 75 and was supported by Mohsen (78) and Ahmed (81). Adding it to the first-round score of 236, gave them a two-round aggregate of 470.

Royal Palm enjoy a five-stroke advantage over their cardinal rivals Karachi Golf Club who found Lahore’s cold weather somewhat difficult to handle.

KGC’s star youngster Omar Khalid, 17, ended the second round with a not too pleasing score of 80. Similarly, Yashal Shah’s round of 82 was in the unwelcome range.

From the Karachi team, only Saim Shazli remained spot-on to record a second-round score of gross 77, improving on his first-round show of 85.

Karachi team’s second-round score of 239 gave them a two-round total of 475. Lahore Gymkhana Team A are third on 478 followed by fourth-placed Gymkhana B (484).

In the individual gross competition, Mohammed Shoaib of Gymkhana led with a two-day aggregate of gross 152, Ahmad Jibran, Dr Aleem-r-Rehman and Mohammed Arsalan are bunched together at 154.

Meanwhile, the Challenge Shield Net Competition was clinched by Ahmad Jibran of Lahore Gymkhana.

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2022