LAHORE - Juvenile Saad Habib of Rumanza Golf Club, Multan, took over the leadership command in this 39th Millat Tractors Governors Cup Golf Championship, which now moves into the final phase here at the historic Lahore Gymkhana Golf Course.
During the second round yesterday, one saw the overnight golfer of excellence, Usman Akram Sahi in disarray and young and extremely talented Saad Habib surfacing as the champion in command and he virtually illuminated the championship proceedings with laudable golfing excellence and meritorious and well-crafted display of golfing skills.
His hitting off the tees on all par fours and par fives was power oriented with accuracy as the hall mark and his approach shots from the fairways were firm and crispy. And through perfection in application of golfing skills he managed five birdies, 11 regulation pars and stroke losses were encountered on two holes.
His five-handicap advantage plus dazzling golf play fetched him a remarkable second-round score of net 64 and that added to his first-round net score of 70 gave him an outstanding aggregate net score of 134, ten under par and he now leads the pack, as Governors Cup moves into the final day on Sunday.
Saad’s nearest challenger is Farid Maneka of Lahore Gymkhana with two rounds scores of net 65 on first day and net 72 on the second day at a net aggregate score of 137, three strokes behind the leader. Hamza Kardar’s net scores for two rounds are 70 and 68 and the aggregate is 138 and though he is lagging behind, yet he has the capacity to withstand the final days pressures.
Dawish Lashari at a score of net 139, Abdullah Farooqi, Hussain Atta and Ahmed Ibrahim at net 140 played unfaltering golf during the second round on Saturday, and now are considered threats to the leader. A few more looking good are Mohsen Zafar, Hassan Samiuddin and Usman Sahi, bunched together at two rounds net aggregate of 142.
In the competition for honors in the ladies’ section, Bushra Fatima is leading with a score of net 71 followed by Minaa Zainab at 73 and Sameea Javed at 74. And competition wise, a close contest is expected on Sunday in the net section where the Governors’ Cup title is at stake. At the concluding ceremony, Governor Punjab will distribute prizes among the winners at 5:30pm at the Lahore Gymkhana Golf Club Lawns.