LAHORE - Royal Palm and Karachi Golf Club teams emerged leaders at the end of the first round of the three-round 12th Royal Palm Golf Team Championship here at par 72 Royal Palm Golf Course on Friday.  Royal Palm team comprising Hussain Hamid, Ahmed Zafar Hayat and Shahid Abbas demonstrated their technical capabilities and assertive intent by managing to get a hold on the frontrunners position with an impressive team score of 236 made possible with some authoritative play by Ahmed Zafar Hayat (gross 74), some ardent play by Hussain Hamid (gross 81) and a steady contribution of gross 81 by Shahid Abbas. Karachi Golf Club aggregated a team score similar to that achieved by Royal Palm, made possible by an impressive 76 by 18-year-old Omar Khalid, gross 79 by Yashal Shah and gross 81 by Hamza Shikoh Khan. Defence Raya Golf team comprising Hafiz Awais (gross 76), Umair Butt (gross 81) and Daniyal Lashari (gross 80) are placed at a team score of 237 followed by Lahore Gymkhana A Team at 240 and Gymkhana B Team at 242.  Together with the team event is the competition for individual gross and in this section, Ahmed Zafar Hayat showed his class and played inspired golf for a round of two over par 74, to become listed as the leader in gross section and in particular, his regulation pars on 15 holes reflected streaks of brilliance. Just one stroke behind is Nauman Ilyas of Lahore Garrison. 
Over the next two rounds, these two seasoned ones are likely to be challenged by four very talented youngsters, Hafiz Uwais of Defence Raya, Nauman Asgher and M Arsalan of Lahore Gymkhana and Karachi’s Omer Khalid. All these four aspirants are placed at a comparable score of gross 76. Another contender, who managed to surprise all, is Dr Aleemur Rehman, who is placed at a score of gross 77.  In the challenge shield net event, which is due to conclude after two rounds today, the best ones after the first 18 holes are Ahmed Zafar Hayat and Nauman Asghar at a net score of 71, one under par. The battle for honors in team championship is very much fierce and the leading teams will put pressure on each other to stay as front runners.