Siddikur eyes history

Bangladeshi golfer Siddikur Rahman is on the verge of a unique feat as he maintained the third-round lead at the Brunei Open in Bandar Seri Begawan yesterday.
The 25-year-old Siddikur, who became a professional golfer in April 2008 after playing the qualifying phase in India in February of the same year, will create a history if he maintain the lead in today’s 18-hole final round.
“It’s a unique achievement what Siddikur have already done in the competition. He started as a ball boy but then achieved marks one after another,” said a delighted Maj (retd) Anis-ul-Islam, member golf operations of the Bangladesh Golf Federation.
Siddikur was the only golfer who won all the amateur circuit in the region as an amateur golfer and he also won four major tournaments in the India circuit in 2008 but his performance in the qualifying phase of the Asian tour was ordinary.
He however returned with a bang last month when he finished sixth in the Kings Cup in Thailand.
Siddikur took a step closer to becoming the first Bangladeshi to win on the Asian Tour. He rued a cold putter but is determined to bounce back and secure a historic victory.
“It was disappointing to bogey the last hole or I might have taken a one-stroke lead. Overall, I’m still happy to be in contention and looking forward to make a title push,” said Siddikur.
AFP adds: Malaysia’s Ben Leong returned to his best form to take a share of the third-round lead with overnight leader Siddikur.
Leong put himself in contention for a second Asian Tour title with a four-under-par 67 while Siddikur bogeyed the last hole for a 70.
The joint leaders are tied with a three-day total of 12-under-par 201 at the Empire Hotel and Country Club.
Former Brunei Open champion Lin Wen-tang of Chinese Taipei battled to a 66 to lie in tied third position with South Africa’s Jbe Kruger and Australian Adam Blyth on a 202 total in the 300,000-dollar tournament.
English duo Simon Griffiths and Nick Redfern, runner-up at the King’s Cup in Thailand last year, are a stroke back with India’s Anirban Lahiri on 203.
Leong got off to a bright start with five birdies in his opening six holes followed by a bogey on eight to make the turn in 31 before adding a bogey and a birdie on the back nine.
The Malaysian, who endured a poor run after his victory at the Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters in 2008, credited his recent surge to form after seeing his coach David Milne last week.
“I putted amazingly on the front nine but the conditions started to get really hot and the wind was blowing strongly,” said the 24-year-old.
“I have been seeing my coach a lot this year and met him last week in Singapore. Training with him has really helped my game and that’s one of the reasons I’m doing well,” said Leong, whose best finish last season was a tied 18th place in Taiwan.
LEADING 3RD ROUND SCORES :
201 – Siddikur (BAN) 64-67-70, Ben Leong (MAS) 70-64-67
202 – Jbe Kruger (RSA) 66-68-68, Adam Blyth (AUS) 67-68-67, Lin Wen-tang (TPE) 68-68-66
203 – Simon Griffiths (ENG) 68-68-67, Nick Redfern (ENG) 70-66-67, Anirban Lahiri (IND) 70-67-66
204 – Thammanoon Srirot (THA) 62-71-71, Zhang Lian-wei (CHN) 71-65-68
205 – Juvic Pagunsan (PHI) 70-64-71, Darren Beck (AUS) 68-69-68, Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND) 69-68-68, Pariya Junhasavasdikul (THA) 70-70-65, Atthaphon Prathummanee (THA) 71-70-64
206 – Adam Groom (AUS) 65-68-73, Guido Van Der Valk (NED) 68-69-69, Namchoak Tantipokakul (THA) 70-68-68, Choengchai Panpumpo (THA) 71-69-66, Hirotaro Naito (JPN) 75-67-64.

Courtesy of The Daily Star