Salman Jahangir sparkles as Pakistan clinch J.R. Jayawardene Trophy

LAHORE: On the opening day of the National Amateur Golf Championships in Lahore, Salman Jahangir showcased his incredible skills by hitting the longest drive. However, despite his impressive performance, he fell short of securing the top spot on the leaderboard. The day was marked by sunny skies at the Lahore Gymkhana.

Salman Jahangir’s remarkable 354-yard drive from the tee earned him the prize for the longest drive, surpassing Omer Intesar, who finished second with a drive of 340 yards. In addition to his impressive drive, Salman’s score of 72, combined with Qasim Ali Khan’s score of 76, contributed to Pakistan’s victory in the one-day team event for the J.R. Jayawardene Trophy, with a lead of seven strokes over Sri Lanka.

Pakistan’s overall aggregate was 148, while the Sri Lankan team finished on 155, with M.H Chalitha Pushpika scoring 76 and R.A.U. Akash Priyamantha scoring 79.

In the individual competition, Salman finds himself just one stroke behind the leaders, as 20-year-old Mohammad Shoaib and Nouman Ilyas took the lead with impressive rounds of one-under 71, distancing themselves from the rest of the 60-strong field after the first round.

Both Shoaib and Nouman demonstrated excellent control, offsetting bogeys with birdies. Their powerful drives, combined with their precise approach shots and putting skills on the greens, showcased their exceptional talent.

“It has been a fantastic return for me,” Shoaib expressed, “and I hope to continue performing well.”

Nouman, on the other hand, aimed for improvement in the upcoming three rounds. “It was a good day for me, but I need to further enhance my game to stay in contention for the title.”

Ralfe Aslam Raja is tied with Salman Jahangir, trailing the leaders by just one stroke, while Usama Nadeem stands alone with a score of 73. Omar Khalid and Umer Farooq are one stroke further behind, making the title race highly competitive.

A group of three players, including Rao M. Hassan, Umair Saleem, and Saad Habib, finished with a score of 75. Nine golfers are closely bunched at 76, along with Qasim and Pushpika. This group includes young talents such as Shahmeer Majid and Sher Ali Khan, as well as Hussain Hamid, Muslim Abbas, Noman Asghar, Ahmed Zafar Hayat, and Wing Cmdr Umer Farooq.

Pushpika’s compatriot, Chanaka Perera, and Ahmed Jibran are tied at 77.

The ladies’ competition is set to begin on Thursday, with participants such as Nida Mir from Qatar, who holds a two-handicap. The sisters, Parkha and Rimsha Ijaz, set the tone by finishing first and second in the longest drive competition. Parkha achieved a distance of 304 yards, followed by Rimsha with 288 yards, and Amina Tiwana with 280 yards.

The senior amateurs’ category witnessed a narrow gap, with Umair Butt surpassing Col Ikram-ul-Haq by just two yards. Umair’s drive reached a distance of 305 yards, while Mohammad Ali secured the third spot with a drive of 300 yards.

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