Breaking Ground: 11th JA Zaman Open Golf Paves the Way for Women and Junior Players
On April 10, the 11th JA Zaman Memorial Open Golf Championship commenced splendidly at the historical Lahore Gymkhana Golf Club. This event marks a significant step towards enhancing inclusiveness, boosting competitive spirit, and fostering golf growth in Pakistan.
Hosted by the Zaman family as a tribute to their distinguished ancestor, Mr. J.A. Zaman, this event has evolved into one of the most significant annual gatherings on the nation’s golf circuit. In an unprecedented move, this year’s iteration welcomed female players and young talents, marking a new era for the game within the country. To foster future golf champions, the first day featured a specialized junior competition co-organized with AJGL—Pakistan’s leading youth-focused golf association.
On day two, the senior amateurs took to the courses, with Brig Masood Qureshi from Rawalpindi at the forefront after scoring a remarkable gross total of 74, which put him three under his handicap. Close behind were Ahmed Zafar Hayat (scoring 75), Sardar Murad (with 77 strokes), and Colonel Asif Mehdi (recording 78). This sets up what promises to be a thrilling competition in the subsequent rounds.
The professional division is anticipated to bring intense rivalry, featuring a prize fund of PKR 9 million spread across 72 holes. Top amateur players and female competitors will engage in a 54-hole match, where every score counts towards the esteemed World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR).
One of the standout aspects of the 2025 championship is the innovative format specifically designed for women golfers. This marks the first occasion where female participants have played on a complete 6,000-yard-plus championship course during this event—an arrangement aligned with international standards set for World Amateur Golf Ranking competitions. Out of the 27 registered ladies participating, an impressive 21 opted to tackle the entire length of the challenging course. This decision underscores rising self-assurance and determination within Pakistan’s women golfer community.
Standing out among the emerging talents are two exceptional 11-year-olds: Maria Waqar, participating in her inaugural WAGR tournament, and Zoey Qureshi, another 11-year-old, making a return appearance after her initial stint. These youthful phenoms are taking part in the demanding 54-hole competition spread across three days—a significant achievement for their tender ages within Pakistan’s golf scene. Completing the lineup are Meerab Rizwan and Areeba Rizwan from Rawalpindi Golf Club, both of whom have risen to meet the challenge at this prestigious tier of play.
All these young athletes have come through AJGL’s development initiatives, exemplifying their mission for fostering disciplined and competitive golf with the aim of lowering handicaps and nurturing world-class talent. They stand as strong evidence of Pakistan’s promising golfing prospects due to their bravery and dedication.
The J.A. Zaman Golf Championship has once again shown itself as much more than just an event; it serves as a stage for development, fairness, and patriotic spirit. Under inspired guidance and consistent backing, this championship is reshaping what’s possible for female players and young talents in golf.
Mr. Hamid Zaman, the key organizer of the championship, expressed his excitement saying, “It brings us great joy to see such fervent involvement, particularly from our young participants in the AJGL and our female golfers. This year represents substantial progress. Through ongoing commitment, we foresee an increasingly fierce yet welcoming tournament in the future.”