New Delhi: Bangladeshi Siddikur was a picture of consistency and confidence as he came back with a third successive four-under-par 68 and took a one-shot lead over defending champion Anirban Lahiri at the SAIL-SBI Open presented by Incredible India, Ministry of Tourism on Friday.
Logging five birdies against just one bogey, Siddikur, who has twice before finished runner-up in Asian tour events at the DGC – at the SAIL-SBI Open in 2011 and at the Panasonic Open India in 2012 – is ready to finally the shed the tag of bridesmaid at DGC. He is at 12-under-par 204.
Yet, he knows it is not going to be easy with Lahiri (66), who had a birdie-birdie finish, snapping hard at his heels just one shot behind. Young Khalin Joshi who had a share of the lead for the first two days with rounds of 66 and 69 did well to hang in there with a battling one-under 71 despite some scares along the way. With him was another precociously talented youngster Rashid Khan (71) also at nine-under in the US$300,000 Asian Tour event, which is celebrating its sixth edition.
Shiv Kapur had a roller-coaster of a round with seven birdies against four bogeys. The way he began with four birdies in first six holes, it seemed he was in a similar mood as the first day when he was seven-under for the front nine.
Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat got over his disastrous 75 from second round with an error-free five-under 67 that put him in shared fifth place with
Kapur at eight-under and four off the lead held by Siddikur.
American Chan Kim stumbled to a 74 to fall out of contention.
The 29-year-old Siddikur, the first Bangladeshi to win on the Asian Tour when he won the Brunei Open in 2010, was delighted to push ahead of the home favourites.
“Very consistent. I’m so happy,” smiled Siddikur, who hit 12 fairways and 14 greens in regulation. “I’ve been very consistent. I’m happy with myself with three 68s. I’ve been trying to get more regulation play and it’s been working.”
Siddikur’s round was highlighted by a monster 40-foot birdie conversion on 16 but he said a par save on 18 after finding the punishing bushes was crucial as it kept his nose ahead of Lahiri.
“On 16, I tried to make just a two putt but it went it. It was a fluke. But I made a good save on 18, made a great up and down. Conditions are not easy. It’s not finished until the last hole and last putt. This course is never easy but I’m looking forward to playing with Anirban as he’s a good friend of mine,” said Siddikur.
Starting the day four behind leaders, Lahiri, charged into contention with a superb display striking as he hit 15 greens in regulation. “It’s the best I have played all week. I’m getting more comfortable on the greens. The last putt was a good putt. It was like a 10 or 12 footer and given the fact that I knew I was two shots back, I thought it was important to make that putt. I’m one shot closer to the lead now.”
Lahiri birdied the first hole, sixth, seventh, 14, 17 and 18 and then said, Joshi lost his way momentarily on his outward nine with three bogeys but fought back to stay in the hunt.
Said Joshi, “I struggled today really badly. Started well with birdie, birdie, and then three putted the third hole. From there, I had a tough day on the front nine but managed to get something back together on the back nine. It was a tough day overall. I didn’t lose my cool which helped me.”
Big-hitting Chapchai produced five birdies for an unblemished card to earn a shot at a second SAIL-SBI Open title, which he won in 2009 with a world record 32-under-par 256 aggregate.