Karachi, (Sports Reporter) The opening round of Bank AL Habib’s 15th Rashid D. Habib Memorial National Professional Golf Tournament got underway today at the prestigious Karachi Golf Club, marking a strong start to one of Pakistan’s premier golfing events.
Among the 120 professionals competing, Muhammad Minhaj Maqsood Waraich (RGC) delivered an outstanding performance, carding a superb 68 (-4) to claim the top position on the leaderboard. He was closely followed by Muhammad Shabbir (MGGC) and Hamza Taimur Amin (RGCC), who finished the round tied for second place with scores of 70 (-2).
A competitive group featuring Matloob Ahmad (LGG), Waheed Baloch (KGC), and Ansar Mehmood (MGGC) followed at 71 (-1), keeping the contest wide open. Meanwhile, defending champion Ahmed Baig (RPG) returned a 73 (+1), leaving him with work to do in the remaining rounds.
Played under pleasant weather conditions and witnessed by an encouraging turnout, the first round highlighted a compelling mix of seasoned professionals and emerging talent. This year’s tournament has also been lauded for the growing presence of educated golfers in the professional ranks, underlining the evolving and progressive landscape of golf in Pakistan.
