KARACHI: Last year, Ahmed Baig and Mohammad Zubair finished in the top two at the Rashid D. Habib Open Golf Championship. After the opening round of this year`s edition, there was nothing to separate them.
Defending champion Ahmed and Zubair posted impressive cards of seven-under 65 at the Karachi Golf Course on Thursday for a share of the lead after the first 18 holes, the duo twoshots clear from the rest of the field.
Riding high on his recent performances on the Asian Development Tour, Ahmed went all guns blazing and fired nine birdies. Zubair was more sedate; his precision on the greens seeing him go bogey-free and bringing seven birdies.
Former champion Mohammad Munir is the closest to the leading duo after a bogey-free 67 where he birdied fiveholes including three in a row on the blue course.
Mudassir Iqbal is a stroke further behind with Mohammad Sajjad, Mohammad Sharif and Talat Ijaz all tied on 69.
Pakistan number one Shabbir Iqbal finds himself seven shots off the pace at 72, one adrift of former champion Matloob Ahmed and Hamza Amin.
