Bangladeshi golfer Siddikur Rahman avoided last-minute jitters to seal just his second Asian Tour win when he clinched the Indian Open on Sunday at the Delhi Golf Club.
Siddik shot a three-over-par 75 in the final round to see off the challenges from the Indian duo, Anirban Lahiri and SSP Chowrasia, who both finished a shot behind the Bangladeshi golfer.
Siddik’s previous win on the Asian Tour came at the Brunei Open in 2010.
The 28-year-old golfer from Madaripur had nearly made a mess of his dominant position after round three.
Siddik started the day four shots ahead of Chowrasia, who crept up on his rival as the former endured a mixed final round, hitting five birdies and as many bogeys, as well as a single triple bogey.
The five birdies were carded on the 2nd, 5th, 13th, 14th and 17th holes, while the bogeys came on the 6th, 9th, 10th, 11th and 16th holes. It was the triple-bogey on the 15th hole that almost brought Siddik down from his position of strength.
Siddik, however, held on for his second Asian Tour win, two weeks ahead of the World Cup of Golf in Melbourne, where he will be one of 13 Asians taking part.
Siddik earned $225,000 (Taka 1.8 crore approximately) as prize money for winning the competition.
The prize money, which is more than his total earnings in 2013, took him to career-high third in the Asian Tour order of merit.
The state minister for youth and sports, Ahad Ali Sarkar, and Bangladesh Cricket Board congratulated Siddik for his remarkable success.
-With New Age input
