LAHORE, Dec 5 A fine card of two-under-par-70 from upcoming young Mohammad Safdar helped Gujranwala `A` to lead the first day of the National Amateur Team Golf Championship at the Royal Palm and Country Club on Friday.

The first round lived up to its expectations as the top clubs of the country battled it out on the tough golf course of Royal Palm.

Gujranwala, which was ably led by Safdar, and others Shakeel Ahmed and Mohammed Saleem Raza, who is gradually getting recognised as a golfer of ability, aggregated 233 to lead the board.

The leaders are followed by Karachi `A` at 236. Their team members are Ali Hai, Ali Sher, Abrar Ahmed and Cdr Anser Mehmood.

The Royal Palm `A` team is bracketed with Karachi A at 236 with contributions from Muhammad Rehman 77, Waqar Saigol 79 and Sardar Murad 80. Amir Mehmood`s score of 85 did not come into contention.

Defending champions, Gymkhana A`s key players` performance remained low par. Their Aadil Jehangir the portly big hitting golfer produced a poor card of gross 82.

His team-mates also failed in rendering support and neither Javed Khan nor Murad A Khan produced any worthwhile score.

Of the four Danyaal Jehangir stood out with a card of 77.

Standings of other teams are Gymkhana `A` at 241, Gymkhana `B` at 242, and Royal Palm `B` at 246. Others are too far behind.

In the contest for challenge shield, way ahead is Sharjeel Awan of Royal Palm with a brilliant net 67 followed by Azfar Hassan at et 70. Kamran Ashraf is at net 71 and Ali Sher at 72.

Gross section leader is M.Safdar at gross 70,Waseem Rana at 73, Ali Hai 76, Sameer Iftikhar 76.

There are still two rounds to go and the team in forefront will need all the lucky breaks and application of sheer skill and concentration to retain that position.—Sports Reporter