LAHORE, Sept 19 (APP): Mohammad Saqib of Lahore Garrison Golf Club won the Under-16 Category of 6th Nick Faldo Series Championship, here on Monday at the Defence
Raya Golf Club.
Saqib, who emerged as the best competitor of the tournament in Under-16 Category and also in the overall reckoning because of the excellent application of golfing skills and exhibition of mental toughness that can be equated with that possessed by established champions in any sport.
A total of 42 junior golfers from all-over Pakistan took part in the three-day event.
Ahmed Baig, also of Lahore Garrison, who managed to stand first in the age category under 18 years. He was accurate and long off the tees, a crisp hitter when it came to approach shots and his putting was amazingly error free.
As far the top one in the age category under 21 years, the successful one was Nadeem Aslam, also of Garrison. Though he came first in the under 21 years age category, his overall score for the three days lacked the outstanding touch when compared to the scores, produced by Saqib and Ahmed.
Amongst the girls, the one who achieved top position was Aania Farooq of Karachi, who showed ample determination to push back the overnight leader Suneyah Osama through a good round on the final day.
As far the details of individual performances in each age category, Saqib performed brilliantly. He was the young one in full control of his game and each aspect of his game reflected control and maturity. Be it the drives off the tees on all par 5’s and par 4’s, or the approach shots, visible was balance and accuracy.
Not once did he drift from the fairways. He stuck to his gameplan and the devotion brought forth the results that he sought for himself. In turn, he brought a good name to his parent club and his coaches.
Statistically, he had scores of 75 on the first day, an outstanding 67 on the second day and a superb 66 on the final day. That gave him an aggregate of eight under par 208
for the championship. In the under 16 years age bracket, another one who did well was Damil Ataullah, with scores of 72, 79 and 74 and an overall aggregate of 225. This young man also carries the burden of studies on his head and yet managed to make his presence felt in the closely contested championship.
Out of the leading performers in the age bracket under 18 years, Ahmed Baig stood first with three rounds scores of 76, 71 and 65 and an aggregate of 212. Ali Anish Rehman
remained second with three rounds scores of 80, 74 and 79 and an overall aggregate of 233.
Nadeem Aslam topped in under 21 years age group with a score of 225, followed by Salim Shazli at 233.
In the girls section, Ania Farooq beat the other contenders with scores of 84, 83 and 77 and an overall aggregate of 244. Suneya Osama and Parkha Ijaz shared the second place with similar scores of 247.
At the conclusion of the event, the prizes were awarded to the top performers by Maj-Gen Tariq Saleem, Vice-President, Pakistan Golf Federation. Brig ® Nayyar Afzal, Secretary of Pakistan Golf Federation, stated that the top performers in each age category will go to China in March 2017. He also said that the selected ones will undergo extensive coaching before they proceed to China.
