The 2nd Ace Junior Golf League Amateur Championship, recognised by the World Amateur Golf Ranking, concluded after three competitive days at Lahore Garrison Greens, underscoring the growing strength of AJGL Junior Golf in Pakistan. The championship honoured the legacy of veteran champion Shabbir Iqbal and brought the nation’s top junior players together in a professionally run event.
Shabbir Iqbal remains a towering figure in Pakistan golf, with more than 210 professional wins and a career that includes multiple Pakistan Open and Punjab Open titles, international Q-School success and representation at the 2009 World Cup. His record of excellence is a constant source of inspiration to the AJGL Junior Golf community and to young players across the country.
In the Boys overall category, Sharaan Ali of Rumanza Golf Club claimed the title with rounds of 68, 71 and 75, while the Girls overall crown went to Aleesa Rashid of Gymkhana Golf Club, who carded 86, 89 and 85 over three rounds. These performances reinforced the depth of talent emerging through AJGL Junior Golf pathways.
Strong showings across age divisions included Abdul Moez taking first place in the Boys Elite category with Shahvaiz Niazi close behind. Sharaan Ali added the Albatross Boys title ahead of Zayd Omer, and Mustafa Khan topped the Eagle Boys category ahead of Haseeb Naeem. The Birdie Boys division for ages six to ten highlighted the League’s development focus, with Muhammad Huzaifa and Muhammad Aoun finishing one and two in matches played over nine holes for three days.
Girls divisions produced notable winners as well: Rimsha Irfan won the Elite Girls category, Aleesa Rashid also captured the Albatross Girls title ahead of Zarish Irfan, and Zoay Qureshi prevailed in the Eagle Girls category with Dua Farid Rao in second. These outcomes reflect the League’s emphasis on structured competition and steady progression toward full 18-hole championship play.
AJGL continues to operate as a nursery for junior talent, running monthly competitions for some 150 juniors aged six to 21 and providing a competitive route into national golf. A defining feature of the League is its commitment to inclusion: on both the November 2026 Rumanza event and the Lahore championship, 14 underprivileged juniors from Peshawar were fully sponsored, with travel, accommodation and participation costs covered through the efforts of Col. Shahadat Hussain, Ms Shehzil Fareed and Peshawar Golf Club.
A rules session led by Ms Munazza Shaheen after the second round stressed ethics and the laws of golf, and professional Shahid Javaid addressed the juniors on the discipline and practice that define champions like Shabbir Iqbal. The prize distribution was attended by the Patron of Lahore Garrison Greens and senior members of the golfing fraternity, who praised Dr Asma Shami and the AJGL leadership for providing opportunities to young players across Pakistan.
The championship also introduced live scoring for the first time in AJGL events, powered by Astute Solutions, giving parents and officials real-time access and enhancing transparency. Special appreciation was extended to Julke, led by Bela Azam, for ongoing financial support, and to Lahore Garrison Greens for its facilitation, as AJGL Junior Golf continues to modernise event delivery and strengthen pathways for the next generation of Pakistani champions.
