The third round at Lahore Gymkhana produced a dramatic shift as Shabbir Iqbal fired a sizzling 66 to join Muhammad Matloob atop the leaderboard at 204, 12-under par, ahead of the final day of the 12th J.A. Zaman Memorial Open Golf Championship.
Matloob began the day with a comfortable five-shot cushion, but Shabbir mounted an inspired response, birdieing four holes in succession on the front nine to erase the deficit. A three-putt bogey on the ninth briefly checked his momentum, yet he returned to pressure Matloob through steady, composed play across the back nine.
The turning point arrived at the 16th when Matloob misfired from the tee and Shabbir seized the opportunity with a precise birdie while Matloob could only manage par. Matloob fought back with a crucial birdie at 17 to reclaim the lead, but a wayward tee shot into the water at the final hole threatened to undo him. Showing resilient nerves, Matloob executed a superb recovery to salvage his score and ensure the leaders remained tied heading into the decider. The Shabbir Matloob pairing now sets up a compelling head-to-head finale with both players showing excellent shot-making and putting form.
Shabbir, the defending champion, now stands on the verge of a record-extending seventh J.A. Zaman title if he can maintain his form under pressure. Karachi’s Muhammad Zubair holds third place at 211, seven shots off the pace, while Muhammad Azam sits at 213. A tight group featuring Shahzeb Jahan, Muhammad Alam, Muhammad Saqib and Minhaj Maqsood trails further back but the final round promises intense interest from local fans as two of Pakistan’s top campaigners duel for the championship.
